EHealth support for mental health of oncology patients – is there patient interest? Summary of the first year with the MOÚ MindCare mobile application

Česká verzia

Authors: Z. Barešová ¹; M. Lekárová ¹; M. Světlák ¹; D. Vigašová ¹; J. Halámková ²; J. Šedo ²
Authors place of work: Ústav lékařské psychologie a psychosomatiky, LF MU Brno ¹; Klinika komplexní onkologické péče LF MU a MOÚ Brno ²
Published in the journal: Klin Onkol 2023; 36(Supplementum 1): 119-122
Category: Article
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/ccko2023S119

Summary

Background: The MOÚ MindCare mobile application has completed its first year of operation at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute (MMCI) as part of a randomized controlled trial evaluating its effectiveness. The aim of this contribution is to summarize the first results stemming from the patient recruitment process and to highlight the challenges of implementing an eHealth program to support mental health in routine practice.

Methods: Patient recruitment for the MOÚ MindCare study has been conducted at the MMCI since June 2022. The recruitment strategies involve several levels. For media promotion, the following communication channels were chosen: advertising banners in waiting rooms, podcasts, radio broadcasts, websites, social media, and approx. 5,000 leaflets. The second level of communication involves active engagement with patients by study coordinators directly at the MMCI. As of June 30, 2023, a total of 408 patients have been registered in the study. Data collection includes recording basic patient information (demographics, clinical stage of illness, treatment intentions, etc.), as well as reasons for study refusal and premature termination in various study phases.

Results: The results show that patients diagnosed with breast cancer show higher adherence to study participation. The most common reasons for study refusal include disinterest in psychological intervention, lack of time, absence of a smartphone, or insufficient technical ability. From conversations with approached patients, it is evident that mental health, particularly self-care, remains an insufficiently comprehensible topic, even though we know that a considerable number of individuals undergoing cancer treatment experience distress at some stage of the illness. Conclusion: Based on our first experiences, recruitment methods, study context, respondents’ gender, and their diagnosis have a significant impact on program adherence and study drop-out rates.

Keywords:

psycho-oncology – eHealth – mobile applications – treatment adherence

Zdroje

1. Donovan KA, Grassi L, Deshields TL et al. Advancing the science of distress screening and management in cancer care. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2020; 29: e85. doi: 10.1017/S2045796019000799.

2. Hui D, Hoge G, Bruera E. Models of supportive care in oncology. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33 (4): 259–266. doi: 10.1097/CCO.0000000000000733.

3. Artherholt SB, Fann JR. Psychosocial care in cancer. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2012; 14 (1): 23–29. doi: 10.1007/s11920-011-0246-7.

4. Elkefi S, Trapani D, Ryan S. The role of digital health in supporting cancer patients’ mental health and psychological well-being for a better quality of life: a systematic literature review. Int J Med Inform 2023; 176: 105065. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105065.

5. Singleton AC, Raeside R, Hyun KK et al. Electronic health interventions for patients with breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analyses. J Clin Oncol 2022; 40 (20): 2257–2270. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01171.

6. Liptáková S, Světlák M, Matis J et al. Signing up is not yet mindfulness practice: a systematic review of adherence to eHealth and mHealth mindfulness-based programs in the pre-pandemic period. Ceskoslovenska psychologie 2022; 66 (3): 233–254. doi: 10.51561/cspsych.66.3.233.

7. Lekárová M, Barešová Z, Světlák M et al. eHealth v medicíně a onkologii – nové horizonty klinické praxe. Klin Onkol 2021; 34 (5): 366–373. doi: 10.48095/ccko2021366.

8. Světlák M, Malatincová T, Halámková J et al. The effectiveness of three mobile-based psychological interventions in reducing psychological distress and preventing stress-related changes in the psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune network in breast cancer survivors: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Internet Interv 2023; 32: 100628. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2023.100628.

9. Winkler P, Mladá K, Janoušková M et al. Attitudes towards the people with mental illness: comparison between Czech medical doctors and general population. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2016; 51 (9): 1265–1273. doi: 10.1007/s00127-016-1263-y.

10. Ministerstvo zdravotnictví České republiky. Národní akční plán pro duševní zdraví 2020–2030. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //www.mzcr.cz/narodni-akcni-plan-pro-dusevni-zdravi-2020-2030/.