Systematic review on the technology’s role in supporting lung cancer patients in the treatment journey
This systematic review examines the role of technology-based interventions in supporting lung cancer patients during their treatment. It identifies (1) the different technologies utilized, (2) their functions and benefits, and (3) the barriers encountered by patients. The authors searched six databases for literature examining the use of technology to support treatment among lung cancer patients. Twenty-three papers were included. We mapped each technology, telehealth platforms, online portals, and mobile apps, to specific treatment phases (pre-treatment, active treatment, post-treatment) and symptom domains (symptom management (N = 17), emotional distress (N = 12), and patient-provider communication (N = 7)). Our results demonstrate that technology can effectively alleviate treatment-related symptoms, reduce emotional burden, and enhance communication. Key barriers included low digital literacy and limited device access. By explicitly linking intervention types to treatment stages and patient needs, this review provides a practical framework for designing and implementing tailored digital support strategies in lung cancer care.
Authors
- Safa Elkefi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4293-0404)
- Pingsheng Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4947-3063)
- Alicia K. Matthews (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0074-681X)
- Steven Feiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9978-7090)
- Guy Hembroff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5302-6413)
- Lanyi Nora Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7160-0690)
- Roa Sabra
Institutions
- Michigan Technological University (US)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
- University of Virginia (US)
- Columbia University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Digital Medicine
- Published
- 2025-08-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01913-7
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Cancer survivorship and care
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.05