Empowering Self-Management in Prostate Cancer: A Scoping Review of Mobile Health Interventions

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Digital Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PC) management requires effective patient support strategies.
• Patient empowerment and self-management are crucial for improving PC care outcomes.
• Mobile health (mHealth) offers potential solutions for enhancing patient engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on the application of mHealth in prostate cancer care.
• To explore how mHealth interventions promote self-management and patient empowerment in PC patients.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, etc.).
• Inclusion of studies on mHealth interventions for PC patients assessing self-management or empowerment.
• Data extraction from randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and mixed-methods studies.

Main Results:

• Thirty studies indicated mHealth interventions improve PC patient self-management and empowerment.
• Interventions included remote monitoring, mobile apps, and social media platforms, showing high feasibility and satisfaction.
• Challenges identified include data privacy, platform customization for older adults, and theoretical integration.

Conclusions:

• mHealth interventions demonstrate potential for enhancing prostate cancer management and patient empowerment.
• Current evidence is limited, necessitating further research into personalized approaches and privacy concerns.
• Optimizing mHealth's role requires addressing existing challenges for broader impact.