Technology-based applications for relatives and caregivers of people with advanced breast cancer-a scoping review

To provide an overview of the current state of international research on technology-based applications for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer, with a particular focus on advanced breast cancer.

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR guideline. The PCC framework was used to define the search terms, and develop the search strategy for the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The systematic search identified 13 relevant articles describing ten different technology-based applications. One additional article was identified through a manual search.

In total, 14 studies covering ten distinct interventions were included. Some interventions were adapted from face-to-face programmes for digital delivery, whereas only a minority were explicitly informed by theoretical models from psychology or health science. The included studies addressed five main areas: informational support, mental and psychosocial support and enhancement of quality of life, physical and practical support, communication support, and preparation for caregiving and death. Evaluations reported predominantly positive findings, particularly with regard to quality of life, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and coping. However, most studies focused on advanced cancer more broadly rather than on advanced breast cancer specifically.

The reviewed literature suggests that technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer are available in several countries and address a range of support needs. However, no intervention tailored to relatives of patients with advanced breast cancer was identified as having been fully developed and evaluated. The findings highlight the need for future research on targeted, sustainable digital support for this group. The development of the Gesi-BK platform is based on the results of this scoping review.