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Background: Mobile health (mhealth) is gaining interest, with mobile devices and apps being ever more available among medical facilities and patients. However, in the field of radiation oncology, the medical benefits of mhealth apps are still underexplored. As an additional approach to patient care during radiotherapy, we designed a mobile treatment surveillance app based on patient-reported outcomes.
Objective: We aimed to examine the feasibility of app-based treatment surveillance in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Alongside technical practicability and acceptance, we assessed patient satisfaction and quality of life during treatment.
Methods: This prospective single-center study was performed at Heidelberg University Hospital between August 2018 and January 2020. During RT we measured patients' quality of life, symptoms, and treatment satisfaction. Respective questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 with diagnosis-specific modules, RAND PSQ-18) were presented to patients via a mobile app running on a designated tablet device. The primary endpoint was determined by the fraction of patients who completed at least 80% of the items. Secondary endpoints were disease-related quality of life and patient satisfaction.
Results: A total of 49 cancer patients (14 breast, 13 pelvic, 12 lung, 10 prostate) were eligible for analysis. 79.6% (95% confidence interval: 66.4-88.5%; n = 39) of all patients completed at least 80% of the items received by the mobile app. A mean of 227.5 ± 48.25 questions were answered per patient. Breast cancer patients showed the highest rate of answered questions, with 92.9% (n = 13) completing at least 80% of the items.
Conclusion: Patients showed high acceptance, with 79.6% (n = 39) completing at least 80% of the given items. The use of a mobile app for reporting symptoms and quality of life during RT is feasible and well accepted by patients. It may allow for resource-efficient, detailed feedback to the medical staff and assist in the assessment of side effects over time.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00066-023-02166-7 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol
September 2025
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Background: Over the past decade, the proportion of the world's population aged ≥65 years has grown exponentially, presenting significant challenges, such as social isolation and loneliness among this population. Assistive technologies have shown potential in enhancing the quality of life for older adults by improving their physical, cognitive, and communication abilities. Research has shown that smart televisions are user-friendly and commonly used among older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Res Protoc
September 2025
Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States.
Background: Children in the United States have poor diet quality, increasing their risk for chronic disease burden later in life. Caregivers' feeding behaviors are a critical factor in shaping lifelong dietary habits. The Strong Families Start at Home/Familias Fuertes Comienzan en Casa (SFSH) was a 6-month, home-based, pilot randomized-controlled feasibility trial that aimed to improve the diet quality of 2-5-year-old children and promote positive parental feeding practices among a predominantly Hispanic/Latine sample.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuro Endocrinol Lett
September 2025
Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
Objective: It is important to raise awareness of the nutritional problems that can be overlooked during the follow-up visits with children who suffer from neuromuscular diseases, as these dietary differences may lead to additional neurological and systemic problems and impair the quality of life of the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of children with neuromuscular disorders and to prevent possible complications by recognizing possible nutritional problems in advance.
Methods: Patients who applied to the outpatient clinic at Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Neurology beginning in April 2022 with a neuromuscular disorder diagnosis were followed up with and were included in the study.
Cardiol Rev
September 2025
Departments of Cardiology and Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.
Heart failure (HF) remains one of the leading causes of 30-day hospital readmissions, presenting a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This comprehensive review synthesizes recent evidence on effective strategies to reduce readmission rates through patient education, self-care interventions, and systemic reforms. Structured education-particularly when reinforced postdischarge through methods like teach-back, tele-coaching, and home visits-has consistently demonstrated improved self-management, symptom recognition, and quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
September 2025
Department of General Medicine, Affiliated Anqing First People's Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death globally. Second-line therapies are crucial for improving survival and quality of life among individuals suffering from advanced HCC who have not responded to first-line therapies. This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different second-line therapies for advanced HCC by network meta-analysis.
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