Optimizing cancer care through mobile health

Abstract

The survival rates for patients living with cancer are increasing, due to recent advances in detection, prevention and treatment. It has been estimated that there were 28 million cancer survivors around the world in 2012. In the UK, for patients diagnosed in 2007, it is predicted that more than half of them will survive their cancer for 5 years or more. A large majority of cancer survivors report unmet supportive care needs and distressing symptoms and adverse long-term consequences related to their cancer. Cancer management could be optimized to better meet patients demand through technology, including mobile health (m-Health). m-Health is defined as the use of mobile communications and network technologies for health care. m-Health can help both patients and health-care professionals and play an important part in managing and delivering cancer care including managing side effects, supporting drug adherence, providing cancer information, planning and follow up and detecting and diagnosing cancer. Health authorities have already published guidelines regulating m-Health to insure patient safety and improve the accountability of its applications.

An oral care self-management support protocol (OrCaSS) to reduce oral mucositis in hospitalized patients with acute myeloid leukemia and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized controlled pilot study

“…Focusing on patient experiences, as oral hygiene researchers including Michie et al have suggested, techniques to foster patient adherence could integrate additional selfmonitoring techniques, e.g., daily diaries, use of new media (e.g., putting reminders and using smartphone apps as assessment tools) or emotional support, e.g., motivational interviews [27,[38][39][40]. Such techniques should be incorporated into standard practice as well as future research.…”

Mobile Apps in Oncology: A Survey on Health Care Professionals’ Attitude Toward Telemedicine, mHealth, and Oncological Apps

“…It showed a better continuity of patient care, reduction of travel costs, shorter waiting times, and importantly no reported adverse events. As telemedicine is based on electronic storage, data can be saved long term and more efficiently and with smaller space compared to paper-based documentation [20]. …”

Exploring the Person-Centeredness of an Innovative E-Supportive System Aimed at Person-Centered Care

“…The optimization of cancer management through eHealth is a reality and regulation to ensure patient safety is taking the first steps. 7 Despite the opportunities provided by eHealth in the field of cancer management, issues concerning the personcenteredness of the services delivered and the adequacy of connection between research and clinical practice are raised. 8,9 The anticipation and possible solution of such issues might be achieved by adopting a methodological approach to development of patient technologies that integrates users' perspectives from early design stages throughout development, evaluation, and implementation.…”