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A systematic review of smartphone applications for cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

Mobile phone applications are positioned to support, educate, and empower cancer survivors during post-treatment care. We undertook a review to assess the utility of such smartphone applications; determine whether their use correlates with improved quality of life and other self-reported outcomes; and understand the feasibility of integrating mobile apps into routine follow-up care.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies evaluating apps that addressed at least one of the five Cancer Survivorship Care Quality Framework (CSCQF) domains published up until December 2021. Studies were narratively synthesized. Implementation barriers and facilitators were mapped against the Technology Acceptance Model.

Results

Twenty-three primary studies were included in this review. Only three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Studies generally found mobile apps to be feasible, acceptable, and well-placed to support survivorship care. Health promotion was the most predominant CSCQF domain with apps primarily aiming to support exercise and dietary changes. The domains of monitoring for cancer recurrence (n=5) and management of co-morbidities (n=1) were underrepresented. Barriers to app use included greater time since active treatment, lack of familiarity with technology, and content not tailored to the user.

Conclusions

Mobile apps are both feasible and acceptable in supporting the transition between active treatment and follow-up care. However, understanding the utility of such apps is limited by the low number of RCTs.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Mobile apps have the potential to be useful support tools for patients post-treatment. However, given the number of apps developed, targeted, and available to cancer survivors, practical guidance to help cancer survivors choose appropriate apps is needed.

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Funding

This project was supported by the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4). JE is supported by an NHMRC Leadership Fellowship (APP1195302).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia

    Krisha Changrani, Arun Sharma, Gil-Gyu Han & Anushka Sharma

  2. Centre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Sophie Chima, Mairead McNamara, Jon Emery & Paige Druce

  3. Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael Jefford

  4. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

    Michael Jefford

  5. Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Paige Druce

Authors
  1. Krisha Changrani
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  2. Sophie Chima
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Contributions

K.C., A.S., G.GH., and A.S. performed the search and screened studies. S.C. wrote the main manuscript text and K.C., A.S., and P.D. helped revise the manuscript. All authors provided key intellectual support and reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krisha Changrani.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The authors declare no conflict interests.

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Appendices

Appendices

Appendix 1. Search strategy (MEDLINE)

  1. 1.

    Survivorship/

  2. 2.

    Cancer survivors/

  3. 3.

    1 or 2

  4. 4.

    (cancer* or neoplasm* or malignan* or tumor* or tumour* or carcinoma* or melanoma* or lymphoma*)

  5. 5.

    (followup or follow-up or posttreatment or post treatment or complet* treatment or survivorship or survivor* or patient intervention* or survivor intervention*or selfmanagement*)

  6. 6.

    4 adj8 5

  7. 7.

    (app or smartphone app* or phone app* or mobile app* or mhealth app*)

  8. 8.

    3 or 6

  9. 9.

    7 and 8

Appendix 2

Fig. 1
figure 1

PRISMA diagram

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Appendix 3

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
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Table 2 App intervention and summary of results
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Table 3 Studies mapped onto the technology acceptance model
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Changrani, K., Chima, S., Sharma, A. et al. A systematic review of smartphone applications for cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-023-01435-9

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