The Impact of Mobile Health on the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients: An interventional study

Background: Traditional oncology rehabilitation services are primarily delivered within healthcare institutions. Mobile health may offer a cost-effective method of oncology rehabilitation.

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of mobile health on the quality of life of cancer patients in China.

Methods: Participants were recruited through insurance companies and cancer rehabilitation institutions. This mobile health intervention utilized an online platform for 16 weeks, and comprised five components: (1) pre-intervention assessment; (2) online health education; (3) online peer education; (4) question answering by experts; and (5) post-intervention assessment. Internationally recognized scales were used to measure outcome indicators, including quality of life, nutritional status, sleep, appetite, and fear of cancer recurrence.

Results: Participants aged over 18 years with a cancer diagnosis or in the cancer recovery phase were included, while those who had been cured were excluded. In total, 208 participants were recruited, but 23 participants were excluded as they were unable to adhere to the intervention or complete outcome measure assessments. A total of 185 participants, aged 45.5±9.08 years, completed the final intervention. Significant improvements were observed in multiple aspects: QLQ-C30 scores showed significant improvements in overall health status, physical function, and other functional domains, and reductions in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and others (P<0.05). Participants’ nutritional risk, malnutrition, sleep quality, fear of cancer recurrence, and appetite were also improved (P<0.05). Finally, regression analysis revealed that appetite and social functioning positively influenced quality of life among cancer patients, while financial hardship, nausea and vomiting, pain, and fatigue exerted negative effects.

Conclusions: Mobile health intervention can enhance the quality of life of patients by improving nutritional status, reducing fear of cancer recurrence, improving sleep quality, and enhancing appetite.