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New App Helps Advanced Cancer Patients Feel Better
2 Jun
Summary
- A smartphone app helps advanced cancer patients manage symptoms.
- App users reported better quality of life than usual care.
- Fewer hospital admissions were noted among app users.
A recent clinical trial has demonstrated the effectiveness of a smartphone app in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with advanced cancer. The SUPPORT+ app facilitates weekly self-reporting of physical and emotional symptoms, providing patients with practical management advice.
Patients utilizing the app showed a better quality of life compared to those receiving usual care. The study, involving over 1,200 participants from six palliative care clinics in Hong Kong, found that app users experienced fewer declines in functioning and higher overall quality-of-life scores after 18 weeks.
Furthermore, the digital intervention led to a reduction in hospital admissions and shorter hospital stays among app users. This proactive symptom monitoring, coupled with timely nurse intervention, is proving to be a valuable tool in palliative care, helping patients manage their symptoms and maintain a better quality of life.
