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Gitonga I, Desmond D, Maguire R. Who uses connected health technologies after a cancer diagnosis? evidence from the US Health Information National Trends Survey. J Cancer Surviv 2024:10.1007/s11764-024-01615-1. [PMID: 38744797 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01615-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE As the number of people living with and beyond cancer increases, connected health technologies offer promise to enhance access to care and support, while reducing costs. However, uptake of connected health technologies may vary depending on sociodemographic and health-related variables. This study aimed to investigate demographic and health predictors of connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer. METHODS Cross-sectional data from the US Health Information National Trends Survey Version 5 Cycle 4 (H5c4) was used. Regression analysis was used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and the use of connected health technologies. The sample was restricted to individuals who self-reported a cancer diagnosis or history of cancer. RESULTS In this cycle, 626 respondents self-reported a cancer diagnosis, with 41.1% using connected health technologies (health and wellness apps and/or wearable devices). Most were female (58.9%) and white (82.5%); 43.4% had graduated college or higher education. One third (33.6%) had a household income of $75,000 or more. Respondents who were younger, have higher education, were living as married, had higher incomes, had higher self-rated health and had higher health-related self-efficacy were significantly more likely to use connected health technologies. There were no significant associations between gender, race, stratum, time since diagnosis, history of anxiety or depression, and use of connected health technologies among people living with and beyond cancer. CONCLUSIONS Connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer is associated with sociodemographic factors. Future research should examine these demographic disparities as the use of connected health technologies in healthcare continues to gather momentum. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS The study underscores a disparity in connected heath technology usage among people living with and beyond cancer. There is a pressing need for research into adoption barriers and interventions to ensure equitable digital healthcare integration among this population, especially with the heightened adoption of technology post COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaiah Gitonga
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland.
- Assisting Living and Learning Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland.
| | - Deirdre Desmond
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
- Assisting Living and Learning Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Rebecca Maguire
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
- Assisting Living and Learning Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
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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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Anders C, Moorthy P, Svensson L, Müller J, Heinze O, Knaup P, Wallwiener M, Deutsch TM, Le TV, Weinert L. Usability and User Experience of an mHealth App for Therapy Support of Patients With Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study Using Eye Tracking. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e50926. [PMID: 38441959 PMCID: PMC10951836 DOI: 10.2196/50926] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early identification of quality of life (QoL) loss and side effects is a key challenge in breast cancer therapy. Digital tools can be helpful components of therapeutic support. Enable, a smartphone app, was used in a multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial in 3 breast cancer centers. The app simultaneously serves as a therapy companion (eg, by displaying appointments), a tool for documenting QoL (eg, by enabling data collection for QoL questionnaires), and documentation of patient-reported side effects. The need for digital tools is continually rising. However, evidence of the effects of long-term use of mobile health (mHealth) apps in aftercare for patients with breast cancer is limited. Therefore, evaluating the usability and understanding the user experience of this mHealth app could potentially contribute valuable insights in this field. OBJECTIVE A usability study was conducted to explore how patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative outpatient treatment rated their engagement with the app , the user experience, and the benefits of using the app. METHODS A mixed methods approach was chosen to combine subjective and objective measures, including an eye-tracking procedure, a standardized usability questionnaire (mHealth App Usability Questionnaire), and semistructured interviews. Participants were surveyed twice during the study period. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Analysis of the eye-tracking data was carried out using the tracker-integrated software. Descriptive analysis was conducted for the quantitative data. RESULTS The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire results (n=105) indicated good overall usability for 2 different time points (4 wk: mean 89.15, SD 9.65; 20 wk: mean 85.57, SD 12.88). The qualitative analysis of the eye-tracking recordings (n=10) and interviews (n=16) showed that users found the Enable app easy to use. The design of the app, information about therapies and side effects, and usefulness of the app as a therapy companion were rated positively. Additionally, participants contributed requests for additional app features and suggestions for improving the content and usability of the app. Relevant themes included optimization of the appointment feature, updating the app's content regularly, and self-administration. In contrast to the app's current passive method of operation, participants expressed a desire for more active engagement through messaging, alarms, or emails. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate the good usability of the Enable app as well as the potential for further development. We concluded from patients' feedback and requests that mHealth apps could benefit from giving patients a more active role (eg, being able to actively document side effects as they occur). Additionally, regular updates of app content could further contribute to encouraging continued use of mHealth apps. Our findings may also assist other researchers in tailoring their mHealth apps to the actual needs of patients undergoing breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Anders
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Preetha Moorthy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics at the Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health (CPD), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Laura Svensson
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Müller
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Heinze
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petra Knaup
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Wallwiener
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas M Deutsch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thao-Vy Le
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lina Weinert
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Section for Oral Health, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Hartup S, Briggs M. Managing chronic pain after breast cancer treatments: are web-based interventions the future? Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2024; 18:47-54. [PMID: 38170201 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Chronic post-treatment pain in breast cancer affects a high proportion of patients. Symptom burden and financial costs are increasingly impacting patients and healthcare systems because of improved treatments and survival rates. Supporting long-term breast cancer symptoms using novel methodology has been examined, yet few have explored the opportunity to utilise these interventions for prevention. This review aims to explore the need for, range of, and effectiveness of such interventions. RECENT FINDINGS Three papers describe risk factors for chronic pain, with six recent papers describing the use of interventions for acute pain in the surgical setting. The evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions to improve pain management in this setting is limited but tentatively positive. The results have to take into account the variation between systems and limited testing. SUMMARY Multiple types of intervention emerged and appear well accepted by patients. Most assessed short-term impact and did not evaluate for reduction in chronic pain. Such interventions require rigorous effectiveness testing to meet the growing needs of post-treatment pain in breast cancer. A detailed understanding of components of web-based interventions and their individual impact on acute pain and chronic pain is needed within future optimisation trials. Their effectiveness as preventative tools are yet to be decided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Hartup
- St James's University Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds
| | - Michelle Briggs
- Pain Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science University of Liverpool
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Kim I, Lim JY, Kim JK, Lee JH, Sohn TS, Park S, Kang SH, Lee JY, Hwang JH. Effectiveness of a personalized digital exercise and nutrition-based rehab program for patients with gastric cancer after surgery: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231187602. [PMID: 37485329 PMCID: PMC10357057 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231187602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with gastric cancer often encounter impaired quality of life and reduced tolerability to adjuvant treatments after surgery. Weight preservation is crucial for the overall prognosis of these patients, and exercise and supplemental nutrition play the main role. This study is the first randomized clinical trial to apply personalized, treatment stage-adjusted digital intervention with wearable devices in gastric cancer rehabilitation intervention for 12 months, commencing immediately after surgery. Methods This is a prospective, multicenter, two-armed, randomized controlled trial and aims to recruit 324 patients from two hospitals. Patients will be randomly allocated to two groups for 1 year of rehabilitation, starting immediately after the operation: a personalized digital therapeutic (intervention) group and a conventional education-based rehabilitation (control) group. The primary objective is to clarify the effect of mobile applications and wearable smart bands in reducing weight loss in patients with gastric cancer. The secondary outcomes are quality of life measured by the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and STO22; nutritional status by mini nutrition assessment; physical fitness level measured by grip strength test, 30-s chair stand test and 2-min walk test; physical activity measured by IPAQ-SF; pain intensity; skeletal muscle mass; and fat mass. These measurements will be performed on enrollment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Conclusions Digital therapeutic programs include exercise and nutritional interventions modified by age, body mass index, surgery type and postoperative days. Thus, expert intervention is pivotal for precise and safe calibration of this program. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04907591 (registration date: June 11, 2020; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04907591).
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Affiliation(s)
- Inah Kim
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Lim
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jun Ho Lee
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Sung Sohn
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsoo Park
- Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Ho Kang
- Department of Urology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Youl Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hye Hwang
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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