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Wu W, Graziano T, Salner A, Chen MH, Judge MP, Cong X, Xu W. Acceptability, Effectiveness, and Roles of mHealth Applications in Supporting Cancer Pain Self-Management: Integrative Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2024; 12:e53652. [PMID: 39024567 PMCID: PMC11294773 DOI: 10.2196/53652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer pain remains highly prevalent and persistent throughout survivorship, and it is crucial to investigate the potential of leveraging the advanced features of mobile health (mHealth) apps to empower individuals to self-manage their pain. OBJECTIVE This review aims to comprehensively understand the acceptability, users' experiences, and effectiveness of mHealth apps in supporting cancer pain self-management. METHODS We conducted an integrative review following Souza and Whittemore and Knafl's 6 review processes. Literature was searched in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycINFO, and Embase, from 2013 to 2023. Keywords including "cancer patients," "pain," "self-management," "mHealth applications," and relevant synonyms were used in the search. The Johns Hopkins research evidence appraisal tool was used to evaluate the quality of eligible studies. A narrative synthesis was conducted to analyze the extracted data. RESULTS A total of 20 studies were included, with the overall quality rated as high (n=15) to good (n=5). Using mHealth apps to monitor and manage pain was acceptable for most patients with cancer. The internal consistency of the mHealth in measuring pain was 0.96. The reported daily assessment or engagement rate ranged from 61.9% to 76.8%. All mHealth apps were designed for multimodal interventions. Participants generally had positive experiences using pain apps, rating them as enjoyable and user-friendly. In addition, 6 studies reported significant improvements in health outcomes, including enhancement in pain remission (severity and intensity), medication adherence, and a reduced frequency of breakthrough pain. The most frequently highlighted roles of mHealth apps included pain monitoring, tracking, reminders, education facilitation, and support coordination. CONCLUSIONS mHealth apps are effective and acceptable in supporting pain self-management. They offer a promising multi-model approach for patients to monitor, track, and manage their pain. These findings provide evidence-based insights for leveraging mHealth apps to support cancer pain self-management. More high-quality studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of digital technology-based interventions for cancer pain self-management and to identify the facilitators and barriers to their implementation in real-world practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizi Wu
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Teresa Graziano
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Andrew Salner
- Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Ming-Hui Chen
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Michelle P Judge
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Xiaomei Cong
- Yale School of Nursing, Orange, CT, United States
| | - Wanli Xu
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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Pala D, Petrini G, Bosoni P, Larizza C, Quaglini S, Lanzola G. Smartphone applications for nutrition Support: A systematic review of the target outcomes and main functionalities. Int J Med Inform 2024; 184:105351. [PMID: 38295584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A proper nutrition is essential for human life. Recently, special attention on this topic has been given in relation to three health statuses: obesity, malnutrition and specific diseases that can be related to food or treated with specific diets. Mobile technology is often used to assist users that wish to regulate their eating habits, and identifying which fields of application have been explored the most by the app developers and which main functionalities have been adopted can be useful in view of future app developments. METHODS We selected 322 articles mentioning nutrition support apps through a literature database search, all of which have undergone an initial screening. After the exclusion of papers that were already reviews, not presenting apps or not focused on nutrition, not relevant or not developed for human subjects, 100 papers were selected for subsequent analyses that aimed at identifying the main treated conditions, outcome measures and functionalities implemented in the Apps. RESULTS Of the selected studies, 33 focus on specific diseases, 24 on obesity, 2 on malnutrition and 41 on other targets (e.g., weight/diet control). Type 2 diabetes is the most targeted disease, followed by gestational diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer and CVDs which all were targeted by more than one app. Most Apps include self-monitoring and coaching functionalities, educational content and artificial intelligence (AI) tools are slightly less common, whereas counseling, gamification and questionnaires are the least implemented. Body weight and calories/nutrients were the most common general outcome measures, while glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was the most common clinical outcome. No statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of the different functionalities were found. CONCLUSION The use of mobile technology to improve nutrition has been widely explored in the last years, especially for weight control and specific diseases like diabetes; however, other food-related conditions such as Irritable Bowel Diseases appear to be less targeted by newly developed smartphone apps and their related studies. All different kinds of functionalities appear to be equally effective, but further specific studies are needed to confirm the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Pala
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Giorgia Petrini
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pietro Bosoni
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cristiana Larizza
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvana Quaglini
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giordano Lanzola
- Department of Computer, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Bertoni S, M M K Magema JP, Van Geluwe B, Abbes Orabi N, Bislenghi G, D'Hoore A, Wolthuis A. Digital postoperative follow-up after colorectal resection: a multi-center preliminary qualitative study on a patient reporting and monitoring application. Updates Surg 2024; 76:139-146. [PMID: 37943493 DOI: 10.1007/s13304-023-01671-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of minimally invasive colorectal surgery in the last decades led to a decrease in length of hospital stay. However, readmission and postoperative complications were still observed. Several studies have shown that close postoperative follow-up is required to decrease postoperative morbidity through patient education and by detecting early signs of complications. To help in this task, multiple monitoring programs have been set up to follow patients at home, allowing detection of several complications at an early stage. To evaluate acceptance, satisfaction, usability, compliance and safety of a mobile application following postoperative colorectal patients during the first 15 days post-discharge from hospital. A mobile application enabling the communication between the patient and medical staff during the recovery phase was developed and tested in four hospitals. Patients who underwent a colorectal resection were included in this prospective qualitative study. Questionnaires to assess satisfaction and usability were handed out to patients at the end of the test period. Overall, 118 patients (52% females, median age 52.5 years) were included. Median adherence-rate during 15 days was 89.6%. Satisfaction-rate for the application was 76% and usability was high. Overall, 1220 notifications were collected, of which 722 were orange, 466 red and 32 purple, colours used to rate the severeness of complaints. We analyzed the most common notifications, showing trends in different subgroups of the study with higher risks of complications (pain (409 notifications), abnormal stools (196 notifications), and wound problems (118 notifications)). A mobile application could be used to follow patients at home after colorectal resection. Future studies should evaluate whether these applications can detect complications and prevent readmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Bertoni
- General and Digestive Surgery Unit, CHU-UCL Namur, Site Dinant, 5500, Dinant, Belgium
| | | | - Bart Van Geluwe
- Abdominal Surgery Unit, AZ Groeninge, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Nora Abbes Orabi
- General and Digestive Surgery Unit, CHR Mons-Hainaut, 7022, Mons, Belgium
| | - Gabriele Bislenghi
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, UZ Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - André D'Hoore
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, UZ Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Albert Wolthuis
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, UZ Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
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Donkor A, Ayitey JA, Adotey PN, Ofori EO, Kitson-Mills D, Vanderpuye V, Opoku SY, Luckett T, Agar MR, Engel-Hills P. Mobile-Based Application Interventions to Enhance Cancer Control and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1606413. [PMID: 38125709 PMCID: PMC10732306 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To identify and appraise mobile-based application (mAPP) interventions that have been used to support cancer control and care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Four electronic databases were systematically searched for studies that reported primary research findings related to mAPP interventions applied in oncology settings in LMICs. A narrative synthesis was performed using the Mhealth Index and Navigation Database as an analytical framework. Results: Twenty studies reporting 18 cancer control and care mAPPs were included in this review. Among these mAPPs, ten focused on prevention, screening and early detection of cancer, five provided information to optimise supportive and palliative care, two provided support to assist treatment-shared decision-making and one covered information for follow-up and survivorship care. Conclusion: Cancer mAPP interventions are gradually gaining attention in LMICs as they provide unique resources for empowering and strengthening the role of people with cancer in their own care. To enhance cancer control, a focus on prevention and early detection is important; however, more mAPP interventions related to cancer treatment, follow-up and survivorship are also needed to enable more cost-effective cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Donkor
- Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Akyen Ayitey
- Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Prince Nyansah Adotey
- Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Esther Oparebea Ofori
- Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Doris Kitson-Mills
- Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Tim Luckett
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Meera R. Agar
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Penelope Engel-Hills
- Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
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Yoon J, Lee H, Son H. Effects of an interactive coaching intervention on quality of life and psychological factors for colorectal cancer survivors: A single group pre and posttest design. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2023; 66:102413. [PMID: 37776600 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and evaluate the effects of an interactive coaching intervention, using a self-management mobile application, on quality of life and physical and psychological factors for colorectal cancer survivors. METHODS We developed a self-management mobile application providing social support services for post-treatment CRC survivors and evaluated its effects through baseline and post-intervention surveys. Using the biopsychosocial holistic model as the theoretical framework, automated interactive coaching technology was applied for six weeks to provide supportive services tailored for each user. To evaluate the effects of the application, self-efficacy, health practice index, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, and quality of life measures were administered to participants. A total of 34 men and 5 women were included in the analysis. RESULTS Participants' mean age were 54.10 years and 78% of them had been diagnosed within the last five years. There were significant increases in self-efficacy (z = 2.09, p = .04), health practice index (t = 2.35, p = .02), and quality of life (t = 2.03, p = .05). More specifically, the emotional functional score increased (z = 2.23, p = .03) while both of the total symptom score (t = 2.10, p = .04) and the fatigue symptom score (z = 2.54, p = .01) decreased after six weeks of using the mobile application. CONCLUSIONS Interventions supporting colorectal cancer survivors' self-management are critical for addressing the challenges they face after treatment and improving their quality of life. Providing social support through mobile applications could be a good strategy in terms of usability and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehee Yoon
- Wolchon Elementary School, 132, Mokdongjungang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 07989, South Korea.
| | - HyunHae Lee
- Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea
| | - Heesook Son
- Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea.
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Beutter CNL, Zeller K, Martens UM, Pfleiderer B, Fegeler C. User-Centered Development of a Mobile App to Assess the Quality of Life of Patients With Cancer: Iterative Investigation and Usability Testing. JMIR Cancer 2023; 9:e44985. [PMID: 37751285 PMCID: PMC10565618 DOI: 10.2196/44985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment for cancer can have a negative impact not only on physical well-being but also on mental health and the quality of life (QoL). Health apps enable the monitoring of different parameters, but to date, there are only few that support patients with cancer and none that focuses on the assessment of QoL. Furthermore, patients as stakeholders are often only integrated at the late stage of the development process, if at all. OBJECTIVE The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate a smartphone app (Lion-App) to enable patients with cancer to autonomously measure the QoL with an iterative, user-centered approach. METHODS Patients with cancer were involved in a 3-stage process from conceptualization to the point when the app was available on the tester's private device. First, focus groups with members (N=21) of cancer support groups were conducted to understand their expectations and needs. Thereafter, individual tests were performed. After developing a prototype that incorporated findings from the focus groups, a second test cycle was conducted, followed by a beta test lasting 2 months. In our app, the QoL can be assessed via a patient diary and an integrated questionnaire. Through all stages, usability was evaluated using the modular extended version of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ+), including the calculation of a key performance indicator (KPI). If possible, the impact of sex on the results was evaluated. As part of the beta test, usage rates as well as age-dependent differences were also assessed. RESULTS A total of 21 participants took part in the initial 3 focus groups. In the subsequent usability testing (N=18), 17 (94%) participants rated their impression through the UEQ+, with a mean KPI of 2.12 (SD 0.64, range: -3 to 3). In the second usability test (N=14), the mean KPI increased to 2.28 (SD=0.49). In the beta test, the usage rate of 19 participants was evaluated, of whom 14 (74%) also answered the UEQ+ (mean KPI 1.78, SD 0.84). An influence of age on the number of questionnaire responses in Lion-App was observed, with a decrease in responses with increasing age (P=.02). Sex-dependent analyses were only possible for the first usability test and the beta test. The main adjustments based on user feedback were a restructuring of the diary as well as integration of a shorter questionnaire to assess the QoL. CONCLUSIONS The iterative, user-centered approach for development and usability testing resulted in positive evaluations of Lion-App. Our app was rated as suitable for everyday use to monitor the QoL of patients with cancer. Initial results indicated that the sex and age of participants seem to play only a minor role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal N L Beutter
- MOLIT Institute gGmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
- Clinic for Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Uwe M Martens
- MOLIT Institute gGmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
- Internal Medicine III for Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, SLK Clinics GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
| | | | - Christian Fegeler
- MOLIT Institute gGmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
- University of Applied Science Heilbronn, Heilbronn, Germany
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Mavragani A, Baniasadi T, Shirkhoda M, Rostam Niakan Kalhori S, Mohammadzadeh N, Roudini K, Ghalehtaki R, Memari F, Jalaeefar A. Remote Monitoring of Colorectal Cancer Survivors Using a Smartphone App and Internet of Things-Based Device: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Cancer 2023; 9:e42250. [PMID: 36790851 PMCID: PMC9978953 DOI: 10.2196/42250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with colorectal cancer who undergo surgery face many postoperative problems. These problems include the risk of relapse, side effects, and long-term complications. OBJECTIVE This study sought to design and develop a remote monitoring system as a technological solution for the postdischarge care of these patients. METHODS This research was conducted in 3 main steps: system feature extraction, system design, and evaluation. After feature extraction from a systematic review, the necessary features were defined by 18 clinical experts in Iran. In the next step, the architecture of the system was designed based on the requirements; the software and hardware parts of the system were embedded in the architecture, then the software system components were drawn using the unified modeling language diagrams, and the details of software system implementation were identified. Regarding the hardware design, different accessible hardware modules were evaluated, and suitable ones were selected. Finally, the usability of the system was evaluated by demonstrating it over a Skype virtual meeting session and using Nilsen's usability principles. RESULTS A total of 21 mandatory features in 5 main categories, including patient information registration, periodic monitoring of health parameters, education, reminders, and assessments, were defined and validated for the system. The software was developed using an ASP.Net core backend, a Microsoft SQL Server database, and an Ionic frontend alongside the Angular framework, to build an Android app. The user roles of the system included 3 roles: physicians, patients, and the system administrator. The hardware was designed to contain an Esp8266 as the Internet of Things module, an MLX90614 infrared temperature sensor, and the Maxim Integrated MAX30101 sensor for sensing the heartbeat. The hardware was designed in the shape of a wristband device using SolidWorks 2020 and printed using a 3D printer. The firmware of the hardware was developed in Arduino with the capability of firmware over the air. In evaluating the software system from the perspective of usability, the system received an average score of 3.8 out of 5 from 4 evaluators. CONCLUSIONS Sensor-based telemonitoring systems for patients with colorectal cancer after surgery are possible solutions that can make the process automatic for patients and caregivers. The apps for remote colorectal patient monitoring could be designed to be useful; however, more research regarding the developed system's implementation in clinic settings and hospitals is required to understand the probable barriers and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tayebeh Baniasadi
- Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Para-Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shirkhoda
- Department of General Surgery, Subdivision of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sharareh Rostam Niakan Kalhori
- Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics (PLRI), Technical University of Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Niloofar Mohammadzadeh
- Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamran Roudini
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ghalehtaki
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute, Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereidoon Memari
- Department of General Surgery, Subdivision of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirmohsen Jalaeefar
- Department of General Surgery, Subdivision of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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