Digital interventions to facilitate patient-provider communication in cancer care: a systematic review

A partir d'une revue systématique de la littérature (13 articles), cette étude analyse les interventions numériques destinées à améliorer la communication relative aux soins entre le patient atteint d'un cancer et le professionnel de santé

Résumé en anglais

Background : Patient-provider communication is a critical component of cancer care. Digital tools have been applied to facilitate cancer care and patient-provider communication. However, to date, there is no systematic review on this growing body of literature.

Objective : To identify the existing digital interventions to improve patient-provider communication among cancer patients and survivors, summarize their characteristics, and synthesize the outcomes of these interventions.

Methods : We searched the databases of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO using PRISMA guidelines with the following criteria: 1) empirical studies focusing on digital interventions to facilitate communication between cancer patients or survivors and their healthcare providers, 2) reporting qualitative or quantitative health outcomes of the cancer patients or survivors after the digital intervention, 3) English articles published after 2000.

Results : The initial literature search generated 1,006 articles, only 13 met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted among breast, prostate, and lung cancer patients. Ten out of thirteen studies used randomized controlled trials to evaluate intervention efficacy. The outcomes assessed included symptoms reporting and management, decision making, distress and quality of life, and utilization of healthcare. Most studies reported positive outcomes following the interventions.

Conclusion : The existing evidence on the number, characteristics, and outcomes of digital interventions to improve patient-provider communication suggest the preliminary efficacy of such interventions. It is essential to develop and implement more evidence-based digital interventions to engage patients, enhance patient-provider communication, and facilitate patient-centered decision making to improve patient-centered health outcomes, especially in underserved communities of cancer patients and survivors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.