Latest: mHealth Resources for Cancer Survivors Need to Be Personalized

mHealth apps that promote physical activity and exercise could be a great benefit to cancer survivors, according to European researchers – but few mobile health resources currently exist for that particular population.

In a study recently published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, researchers from the UK’s University of Surrey and the Universidad de Oviedo in Spain analyzed roughly 340 connected health apps available for iOS and Android devices, and found that 20 percent “contained potentially suitable content for people affected by cancer.”

“Overall, most apps we reviewed appeared to perform well in terms of their objective quality, but less well at promoting knowledge and awareness or help seeking related to physical activity,” the researchers concluded.

The need is there, however, for digital health resources for those dealing with or recovering from cancer.

“Fewer than 25 percent of cancer survivors meet physical activity guidelines, which is concerning,” Jo Armes, the University of Surrey’s digital health lead, told Digital Health Age. “Not only will physical activity help improve the quality of life of survivors, it lessens their risk of developing new conditions such as osteoporosis or diabetes.”

“However, there is currently little in place to help those recovering from cancer to increase physical activity levels,” she added. “With over 80 percent of the adult population owning a smart phone, fitness apps could potentially fill this void by providing easily accessible instructions, helping them to monitor their progress and set goals for themselves.”

The problem, Armes and her colleagues noted, is that mHealth apps for health and fitness aren’t being designed for those living with cancer. For their study, the researchers excluded apps that charge for use, as well as apps that are paired with wearables and those deemed unsuitable for people with cancer (due to unproven effectiveness or an emphasis on body image). Those apps deemed suitable tended to focus on aerobic activities and featured goal-setting, monitoring and feedback, qualities that are beneficial to the user and the user’s care team.

Healthcare providers are increasingly looking to mHealth and telehealth to improve care management for those living with and recovering from cancer away from the hospital or clinic. Many are finding that connected health resources can improve clinical outcomes by promoting health and wellness at home, but those resources have to be tailored to the patient, including personalized content and information specific to cancer care.

Among those examining how mHealth can tackle cancer-related fatigue is the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, which is part of an international project aimed at proving the feasibility of an mHealth platform.

Another project is the SIMPRO (Symptom Management IMplementation of Patient Reported Outcomes in Oncology) Research Center, an effort launched in 2018 by the National Cancer Institute and the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative in which six health systems around the country are using a remote patient monitoring platform to collect data on cancer care management in the home.

These studies also need to keep patient engagement and collaboration in the forefront.

That was the gist of a 2016 study in which researchers from Stanford University and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California found that many mHealth apps designed to help cancer patients and survivors aren’t doing a good job.

“There is tremendous potential for mobile health apps to improve long-term health outcomes among cancer survivors, but the field of mobile health research is in its infancy,” Lorene Nelson, an associate professor of health research and policy at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a press release issued by CPIC after the study was published in the March 24, 2017 issue of the Journal for Cancer Survivorship.

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