Digital health interventions for psychological outcomes among adolescents and young adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer show a strong interest in digital health interventions (DHIs); however, limited pooled evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exists regarding their quantitative benefits in this population. This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42024593656) screened a total of 9949 records from six databases, registers and other sources up to January 5, 2025, and included 31 articles from 25 studies examining DHIs targeting psychological outcomes among AYAs. Most DHIs were conducted via websites (n = 13), mobile applications (n = 5), wearable devices (n = 6), or videoconferencing/telephone (n = 6), and interventions were multicomponent and promoted self-management. Meta-analysis showed a significant effect of DHIs on quality of life, anxiety, psychological distress, and social support. Meta-regression revealed that the mode of delivery (instructor-based vs. self-guided) moderated the effects of DHIs on anxiety and depressive symptoms, with instructor-based DHIs producing significantly stronger effects. Future RCTs evaluating the impact of DHIs on cognitive impairment and cost-effectiveness are needed.