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© 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the "License"). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background

Smartphone technology represents an opportunity to deliver practical solutions for people affected by cancer at a scale that was previously unimaginable, such as information, appointment monitoring, and improved access to cancer support services. This study aimed to determine whether a smartphone application (app) reduced the unmet needs among people newly diagnosed with cancer.

Methods

A single blind, multisite randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of an app‐based, 4‐month intervention. Newly diagnosed cancer patients were approached at three health service treatment clinics.

Results

Eighty‐two people were randomized (intervention; n = 43 and control; n = 39), average age was 59.5 years (SD: 12.9); 71% female; 67% married or in a de facto relationship. At baseline, there were no differences in participants’ characteristics between the groups. No significant effects, in reducing unmet needs, were demonstrated at the end of intervention (4‐month) or 12‐month follow‐up. Overall, 94% used the app in weeks 1‐4, which decreased to 41% in weeks 13‐16. Mean app use time per participant: Cancer Information, 6.9 (SD: 18.9) minutes; Appointment Schedule, 5.1 (SD: 9.6) minutes; Cancer Services 1.5 minutes (SD: 6.8); Hospital Navigation, 1.4 (SD: 2.8) minutes.

Conclusions

Despite consumer involvement in the design of this smartphone technology, the app did not reduce unmet needs. This may have been due to the study being underpowered. To contribute to a meaningful understanding and improved implementation of smartphone technology to support people affected by cancer, practical considerations, such as recruitment issues and access to, and confidence with, apps, need to be considered.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration (ACTRN) Trial Registration: 12616001251415; WEF 7/9/2016.

Details

Title
Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE)
Author
Livingston, Patricia M. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Heckel, Leila 2 ; Orellana, Liliana 3 ; Ashley, David 4 ; Ugalde, Anna 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Botti, Mari 5 ; Pitson, Graham 6 ; Woollett, Anne 7 ; Chambers, Suzanne K. 8   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Parente, Phillip 9 ; Chirgwin, Jacqueline 10 ; Mihalopoulos, Cathrine 11 ; Lavelle, Barbara 12 ; Sutton, Jennifer 13 ; Phipps‐Nelson, Jo 14 ; Krishnasamy, Mei 7 ; Simons, Katherine 15 ; Heynsbergh, Natalie 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Wickramasinghe, Nilmini 16 ; White, Vicki 17 

 Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
 Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
 Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA 
 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia, Epworth HealthCare, Richmond, Vic., Australia 
 Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Barwon Health, University Hospital, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
 The University of Melbourne, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Vic., Australia 
 Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia 
 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia, Eastern Health, Department of Oncology, Box Hill, Vic., Australia 
10  Eastern Health, Department of Oncology, Box Hill, Vic., Australia 
11  Faculty of Health, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
12  Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
13  Consumer, Melbourne, Vic., Australia 
14  Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia 
15  North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, Heidelberg, Vic., Australia 
16  Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Vic., Australia 
17  Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia 
Pages
507-516
Section
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
Publication year
2020
Publication date
Jan 1, 2020
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
20457634
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2341075921
Copyright
© 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the "License"). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.