In a world where lung cancer patients struggle with symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and depression, recent advancements in eHealth technologies offer a ray of hope. A comprehensive review has unearthed promising evidence that digital interventions can significantly enhance physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for those battling lung cancer. However, the journey to integrate these technologies into routine clinical practice remains fraught with challenges, particularly in terms of long-term effectiveness and widespread adoption.
Review Objective and Methodology
The primary aim of the review was to identify and evaluate existing research on eHealth technologies that aid lung cancer patients in improving or maintaining physical functioning and HRQoL. To achieve this, the researchers combed through six major databases—PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO—covering studies from January 1, 1990, to April 30, 2023. Eligible studies included adults with lung cancer who had participated in digital interventions related to physical activity, exercise, or training.
Results and Key Findings
From an initial pool of 794 papers, only 7 studies met the rigorous inclusion criteria for the review. These studies, conducted between 2010 and 2018 across various countries, assessed different eHealth technologies, including web-based applications, mobile apps, and gaming consoles. The interventions showed improvements in walking distance, muscle strength, balance, dyspnea symptoms, and cancer-related fatigue. Additionally, HRQoL scores exhibited positive trends.
Despite these promising results, the review highlighted a significant gap: none of the studies explored the long-term impact or the seamless incorporation of these digital solutions into standard healthcare settings. This points to a critical need for further research focused on the implementation and sustained effectiveness of eHealth technologies in clinical practice.
Concrete Inferences and Market Access
The review underscores several valuable insights for market access and future research:
- The existing eHealth interventions show potential but require validation through long-term studies.
- Market access could be facilitated by developing scalable, user-friendly platforms that integrate seamlessly with existing healthcare systems.
- Collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, technology developers, and policymakers are essential for successful implementation.
These findings not only highlight the potential benefits of eHealth technologies but also emphasize the importance of addressing market access barriers to ensure these innovations reach those who need them most.
In conclusion, while eHealth technologies present a promising avenue for enhancing the quality of life for lung cancer patients, the journey towards their integration into routine clinical practice is just beginning. The need for comprehensive, long-term studies and collaborative efforts to overcome market access challenges remains paramount.
Original Article:
J Med Internet Res. 2024 Jul 26;26:e53015. doi: 10.2196/53015.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite advancements in treatment and early diagnosis, people with lung cancer are not living as long as those with other cancers. The more common symptoms of lung cancer, such as breathlessness, fatigue, and depression, can be alleviated by improving patients’ physical functioning. Therefore, good symptom management and improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are priorities in this patient group. However, current health care services have limited capacity to provide this support. One way to address this issue of health care resources is to empower patients to self-manage their condition using eHealth technologies.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to identify and assess available research on technologies that support persons with lung cancer to improve or maintain their physical functioning, HRQoL, or both.
METHODS: Six databases-PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO-were searched from January 1, 1990, to April 30, 2023. Studies were suitable for inclusion if the participants included people with lung cancer aged >18 years who had been exposed to a physical activity, exercise, or training intervention that was delivered via an electronic or web-based application with or without a comparator. Furthermore, the study had to report on the impact of the intervention on physical functioning and HRQoL. Studies that focused on telemedicine without a digital intervention were excluded. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to assess the quality of the included papers. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a narrative synthesis was undertaken.
RESULTS: This review is reported in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 794 papers were initially identified through our search, of which, after screening, 8 (1%) were confirmed suitable for inclusion in the review. As 2 (25%) of the 8 papers reported on different stages of the same study, we included only 7 studies in our analysis. The studies were undertaken between 2010 and 2018 across multiple countries and aimed to develop a technology and test its feasibility or acceptance. The 7 technologies identified included web-based applications, mobile apps, and gaming consoles. The studies demonstrated impact on walking distance, muscle strength, balance, dyspnea symptoms, and cancer-related fatigue. HRQoL scores also showed improvement.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that eHealth technologies can positively impact physical functioning and well-being for people with lung cancer, but there are limited studies that demonstrate the impact of these digital interventions over longer periods. None of the studies reported on the implementation or adoption of a mobile health or eHealth intervention in routine clinical practice, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023414094; https://tinyurl.com/39hhbwyx.
PMID:39059003 | DOI:10.2196/53015
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