Evidence on the Use of Mobile Apps During the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Systematic Review

Cruz, Flávia Oliveira de Almeida Marques da; Vilela, Ricardo Alencar; Ferreira, Elaine Barros; Melo, Nilce Santos de; Reis, Paula Elaine Diniz dos

doi:10.2196/13245

Cited by 54 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although there are a number of well-researched, psychometrically sound and widely used measures for monitoring the symptom burden, psychosocial needs and quality of life of patients with cancer, additional work is needed [51,52]. This work could take advantage of available and emerging technologies, such as the use of mobile devices to detect problems at relevant points in time, and eHealth interventions that make psychosocial interventions more accessible to a larger number of patients at lower costs.…”

Section: Psychosocial Oncology Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: recommendations

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A comprehensive translational cancer research approach focused on personalized and precision medicine, and covering the entire cancer researchcare-prevention continuum has the potential to achieve in 2030 a 10-year cancer-specific survival for 75% of patients diagnosed in European Union (EU) member states with a well-developed healthcare system. Concerted actions across this continuum that spans from basic and preclinical research through clinical and prevention research to outcomes research, along with the establishment of interconnected high-quality infrastructures for translational research, clinical and prevention trials and outcomes research, will ensure that science-driven and social innovations benefit patients and individuals at risk across the EU. European infrastructures involving comprehensive cancer centres (CCCs) and CCC-like entities will provide researchers with access to the required critical mass of patients, biological materials and technological resources and can bridge research with healthcare systems. Here, we prioritize research areas to ensure a balanced research portfolio and provide recommendations for achieving key targets. Meeting these targets will require harmonization of EU and national priorities and policies, improved research coordination at the national, regional and EU level and increasingly efficient and flexible funding mechanisms. Long-term support by the EU and commitment of Member States to specialized schemes are also needed for the establishment and sustainability of trans-border infrastructures and networks. In addition to effectively engaging policymakers, all relevant stakeholders within the entire continuum should consensually inform policy through evidencebased advice.

show abstract

Section: Psychosocial Oncology Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: recommendations

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ginossar et al [ 34 ] performed a systematic review of literature and found over 100 breast cancer-related mobile apps; however, many of them did not lead to behavior change and many were not evidence-based. Recent mobile apps for women with breast cancer have a positive effect by promoting weight loss, decreasing stress, and improving the quality of life [ 35 , 36 ]. Apps for reporting symptoms and promoting self-care during cancer chemotherapy treatment are still rare [ 6 - 11 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile App for Symptom Management and Associated Quality of Life During Systemic Treatment in Early Stage Breast Cancer: Nonrandomized Controlled Prospective Cohort Study

Kuhar¹,

Cepeda²,

Kovač³

et al. 2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Providing patients with cancer who are undergoing systemic therapy with useful information about symptom management is essential to prevent unnecessary deterioration of quality of life. Objective The aim was to evaluate whether use of an app for symptom management was associated with any change in patient quality of life or use of health resources. Methods Outpatients with early stage breast cancer receiving systemic therapy were recruited at the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Patients who received systemic therapy between December 2017 and March 2018 (control group) and between April 2018 and September 2018 (intervention group) were eligible. All patients received standard care, but only those in the intervention group were asked to use mPRO Mamma, an Android-based smartphone app, in addition. The app supported daily tracking of 50 symptoms, allowed users to grade their symptom severity (as mild, moderate, or severe), and also provided in-depth descriptions and recommendations based on reported symptom level. Patient-reported outcomes in both groups were assessed through the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core (C-30) and breast cancer (BR-23) questionnaires, as well as a questionnaire about health resources use. The primary outcomes were the difference in the global quality of life between groups and the difference in summary score of the EORTC C-30 questionnaire between groups after 3 time periods (the first week of treatment, the first treatment cycle, and the entire treatment). The secondary outcome was the use of health resources (doctor visits and hospitalizations) in each time period. Other scales were used for exploratory analysis. Results The mean difference between the intervention group (n=46) and the control group (n=45) in global quality of life (adjusted for baseline and type of surgery) after the first week was 10.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 18.5, P=.02). The intervention group summary scores were significantly higher than those of the control group after the first week (adjusted mean difference: 8.9, 95% CI 3.1 to 14.7, P=.003) and at the end of treatment (adjusted mean difference: 10.6, 95% CI 3.9 to 17.3, P=.002). Use of health resources was not statistically significant between the groups in either the first week (P=.12) or the first treatment cycle (P=.13). Exploratory analysis findings demonstrated clinically important improvements (indicated by EORTC C-30 or BR-23 scale scores)—social, physical, role, and cognitive function were improved while pain, appetite loss, and systemic therapy side effects were reduced. Conclusions Use of the app enabled patients undergoing systemic therapy for early stage breast cancer to better cope with symptoms which was demonstrated by a better global quality of life and summary score after the first week and by a better summary score at the end of treatment in the intervention group compared to those of the control group, but no change in the use of health resources was demonstrated.

show abstract

“…From this viewpoint, mobile health (mHealth) apps in cancer care have emerged as an attractive technology for enabling symptom and disease management and promoting healthy lifestyles such as increasing physical activity [9][10][11][12][13]. An increasing number of mHealth apps for patients with breast cancer are being developed; these apps aid in establishing an association between patients and health care professionals [9,[14][15][16]. Currently, approximately 600 mobile apps for patients with breast cancer are available in the iOS and Android markets [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Modular Mobile Health App for Personalized Rehabilitation Throughout the Breast Cancer Care Continuum: Development Study

Lim

Kim²,

Kim

et al. 2021

JMIR Form Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Although many mobile health (mHealth) apps have evolved as support tools for self-management of breast cancer, limited studies have developed a comprehensive app and described the algorithms for personalized rehabilitation throughout the breast cancer care continuum. Objective This study aimed to develop a comprehensive mobile app and to describe an algorithm that adjusts personalized content to facilitate self-management throughout the breast cancer care continuum. Methods The development process of the modular mHealth app included the following 4 steps: (1) organizing expert teams, (2) defining evidence-based fundamental content and modules, (3) classifying user information for algorithms to personalize the content, and (4) creating the app platform and connectivity to digital health care devices. Results We developed a modular mHealth app service, which took 18 months, including a review of related literature and guidelines and the development of the app and connectivity to digital health care devices. A total of 11 functionalities were defined in the app with weekly analysis. The user information classification was formulated for personalized rehabilitation according to 5 key criteria: general user information, breast operation type, lymph node surgery type, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy use, and change in treatment after surgery. The main modules for personalized content included a self-monitoring screen, personalized health information, personalized exercise, and diet management. Conclusions The strength of this study was the development of a comprehensive mHealth app and algorithms to adjust content based on user medical information for personalized rehabilitation during the breast cancer care continuum.

show abstract

Evidence on the Use of Mobile Apps During the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Systematic Review

Cited by 54 publications

References 24 publications

Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: recommendations

Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: recommendations

Mobile App for Symptom Management and Associated Quality of Life During Systemic Treatment in Early Stage Breast Cancer: Nonrandomized Controlled Prospective Cohort Study

A Modular Mobile Health App for Personalized Rehabilitation Throughout the Breast Cancer Care Continuum: Development Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About