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. 2025 May 20;8(1):296.
doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-01716-w.

A randomized controlled trial of a digital lifestyle intervention involving postoperative patients with colorectal cancer

Young Il Kim  1 , In Ja Park  2 , Jun-Soo Ro  3 , Jong Lyul Lee  1 , Chan Wook Kim  1 , Yong Sik Yoon  1 , Seok-Byung Lim  1 , Chang Sik Yu  1 , Yura Lee  4 , Yae Won Tak  4 , Seockhoon Chung  5 , Kyung Won Kim  6 , Yousun Ko  7 , Sung-Cheol Yun  8 , Min-Woo Jo  9 , Jong Won Lee  10
Affiliations

A randomized controlled trial of a digital lifestyle intervention involving postoperative patients with colorectal cancer

Young Il Kim et al. NPJ Digit Med. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Few studies have investigated quality of life (QoL) improvements in patients with colorectal cancer or the benefits of digital healthcare interventions. This randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of mobile applications on postoperative QoL in patients scheduled for curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Patients were randomized into three intervention groups (each using a different mobile application for postoperative lifestyle management) and a control group. QoL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), with physical and metabolic parameters and fat/muscle areas measured preoperatively, and every six months postoperatively. At six months, no significant differences in the EQ-5D scores from baseline were observed across groups. Intervention Group C showed a significant increase in skeletal muscle area compared to the control group (P = 0.046). Overall, mobile application use had a minimal effect on postoperative health-related QoL, warranting further research on their efficacy and compliance rates. Trial registration: CRIS.nih.go.kr: KCT0005447. Registration date: June 23, 2020.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the study’s screening and inclusion process.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Box plots comparing the EQ-5D dimension results for each intervention and control group.
a EQ-5D index score at six months postoperative; (b) changes in the EQ-5D index scores from baseline to six months postoperative.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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