Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management

Abstract

Background: Despite improved survival rates, cancer patients often face physical and mental health challenges during and post-treatment. With cancer care services under pressure, these issues may go unnoticed. Holistic Needs Assessments attempt to address such problems but can have limited impact, necessitating corresponding interventions. Automated, personalised text-messaging interventions, successful in health monitoring, may be an effective solution but evidence is lacking on their integration into cancer care settings.

Objective: To explore the feasibility and engagement in personalised smart-messaging programmes to manage common cancer-related issues.

Methods: Recruitment occurred via clinician referrals and flyers in cancer care services. Qualitative and quantitative methods explored engagement data, clinical outcome measures, and qualitative interviews. A workshop involving patients and referring staff explored factors affecting programme implementation.

Results: Twenty-seven patients enrolled, exhibiting varied engagement levels. Some participants reported symptom reduction particularly linked to higher engagement. The analysis of qualitative interviews on participant experience of the programmes resulted in themes related to enrolment rationale, sustaining engagement, and participation outcomes; and factors facilitating engagement included the practical and psychological dimensions of programme delivery. Twenty-seven participants responded to 49.95% of messages where responses were possible across 42.90% of enrolled days. The workshop emphasised the need for improved promotional materials and staff training.

Conclusion: A tailored text messaging intervention shows promise in alleviating cancer-related symptoms, yet enrolment and active engagement remain obstacles. Enhanced promotional strategies are required to increase programme visibility and impact. Further research and integration into routine care are recommended.

Keywords: Cancer < disease; anxiety < psychology; depression < psychology; digital health < general; mental health < psychology.

Figure 1.

Proportion of participants with deteriorated, no change, or improved outcomes at post-programme versus follow-up.

Figure 2.

Average effect sizes by outcome: change from baseline to completion and from baseline to follow-up.