Implementation of digital health interventions in thyroid cancer care: A scoping review

Thyroid cancer is one of the fastest-growing malignancies worldwide, with an increasing number of long-term survivors requiring ongoing care. Digital health interventions offer scalable and patient-centered approaches to support this population, yet it remains unclear how these interventions have been designed, delivered, evaluated, and adopted in practice. This scoping review aims to synthesize current evidence on the characteristics, effectiveness, and uptake of digital health interventions in thyroid cancer care.

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) from inception to April 6, 2025. Reference lists of included articles were also screened manually. Information on study characteristics, participant details, intervention types and settings, outcomes, and reported barriers and facilitators was extracted.

A total of 23 studies were included, most of which were conducted since 2018 and focused on postoperative patients. Interventions primarily targeted follow-up care, postoperative rehabilitation, and psychological support, using technologies such as smartphone apps, AI-driven systems, and telehealth. Preliminary evidence suggests improvement in quality of life, psychological well-being, and treatment-related adherence. However, few studies evaluated implementation outcomes or addressed barriers like digital literacy and privacy concerns. Theoretical frameworks and stakeholder co-design were rarely used.

Digital health interventions in thyroid cancer care show promise but remain underutilized in clinical practice. Future research should enhance uptake and implementation by expanding target populations, integrating emerging technologies, and adopting more rigorous and grounded approaches. Addressing these gaps may guide continued innovation and support broader integration of digital health interventions in this population.