Mobile health application-based interventions for improving self-efficacy among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A systematic review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND During the Covid-19 global pandemic, mHealth applications have rapidly gained popularity, including those used to support symptom self-management for breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to summarize the current evidence on the components of mHealth self-management programs that lead to improvements in self-efficacy and other health outcomes for breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS A systematic search was conducted from databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Crochrane Library, PsychoINFO) and registers (ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP). In addition, a citation search was performed for potential missing records. Electronic searches were carried out following PRISMA guidelines (2020). Data extraction and synthesis were mainly based on four domains of the Intervention Scheme in the OMAHA System. RESULTS Searches identified 1668 records; 44 articles had full text screening, with five randomized controlled trials (n = 537 participants) included. One study demonstrating significant effectiveness in self-efficacy merely contained one domain, “Teaching, guidance, and counselling”. One study that contained that domain showed a statistically significant improvement in Quality of life (QoL). Significant improvements in symptom burden/distress were observed in the studies that contained either a single domain or a combination of domains. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence is still insufficient to conclude that mHealth app-based interventions are effective in terms of self-efficacy and other health outcomes such as QoL, symptom distress/frequency among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The OMAHA System can be introduced to direct healthcare providers to design structured and tailored interventions. CLINICALTRIAL CRD42021286658