OBJECTIVES

: This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review on the use of mHealth apps to improve QoL and psychological outcomes in surviving cancer patients

METHODS

: Randomized trials or observational studies that included the use of mHealth apps for cancer patients were identified in Pubmed. Studies were published after 2010, included mHealth apps as intervention, and adult (≥18) cancer patients. The target outcomes were quality of life measures, including broader psychological outcomes such as anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

: A total of 42 studies were included in the review. The majority (45.2%) were conducted in Asia (in order: South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan); 38.1% in the United States; 16.7% in Europe. Most interventions (95.2%) used a mobile app and 6 (14.3%) also included a wearable device. Most apps (47.6%) focused on general support or education; 7 (16.7%) on physical activity or weight loss; 5 (11.9%) on rehabilitation. Nearly half of all studies were on female cancers (breast, 42.9%; gynecological, 4.8%) and 23.8% included multiple sites. Over one-third of studies (35.7%) used a pre-post study design without a comparison group. For mHealth users, the majority of studies (81.0%) showed improvement in key psychological measures across time, 11.9% showed no change, and 7.1% reported a decline (potentially due to their cancer). Nearly half of all studies (47.6%) reported significant improvement for at least one psychological measure and 12 (44%) of studies with a control arm reported significantly better outcomes favoring the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

: This study found that most mHealth interventions were conducted in East Asia and the U.S, and female cancers were the most common. Majority of studies showed improvement for key domains and nearly half were statistically significant. A meta-analysis evaluating the magnitude of the effect of mHealth interventions would be imperative in further understanding and maximizing its benefits.