Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management
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, ne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330383 |
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| author | Clement Boutry Chloe Mays Anika Kochar Nima Moghaddam Priya Patel Emily Watson Matthew Dicks Felicity Gibbons Sam Malins James Rathbone |
| author_facet | Clement Boutry Chloe Mays Anika Kochar Nima Moghaddam Priya Patel Emily Watson Matthew Dicks Felicity Gibbons Sam Malins James Rathbone |
| author_sort | Clement Boutry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-796921aa92544cd59c4cc090bcdfcae3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-796921aa92544cd59c4cc090bcdfcae32025-08-20T01:48:26ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-04-011110.1177/20552076251330383Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom managementClement Boutry0Chloe Mays1Anika Kochar2Nima Moghaddam3Priya Patel4Emily Watson5Matthew Dicks6Felicity Gibbons7Sam Malins8James Rathbone9 Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK Psychological Health and Wellbeing (PHeW) Group, , Lincoln, UK Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UK , Nottingham, UKBackground 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.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330383 |
| spellingShingle | Clement Boutry Chloe Mays Anika Kochar Nima Moghaddam Priya Patel Emily Watson Matthew Dicks Felicity Gibbons Sam Malins James Rathbone Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management Digital Health |
| title | Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management |
| title_full | Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management |
| title_short | Enhancing wellbeing in cancer care: Engagement in smart-messaging programmes for symptom management |
| title_sort | enhancing wellbeing in cancer care engagement in smart messaging programmes for symptom management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330383 |
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