Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
This meta-analysis of RCTs aimed to determine whether replacing face-to-face hospital care with telemedicine deteriorates psychosocial outcomes of adult cancer patients, in terms of quality of life (QoL), anxiety, distress, and depression. RCTs on interventions aimed at improving patient psychosocia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/7/2090 |
| _version_ | 1797608276218609664 |
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| author | Caterina Caminiti Maria Antonietta Annunziata Paola Di Giulio Luciano Isa Paola Mosconi Maria Giulia Nanni Michela Piredda Claudio Verusio Francesca Diodati Giuseppe Maglietta Rodolfo Passalacqua |
| author_facet | Caterina Caminiti Maria Antonietta Annunziata Paola Di Giulio Luciano Isa Paola Mosconi Maria Giulia Nanni Michela Piredda Claudio Verusio Francesca Diodati Giuseppe Maglietta Rodolfo Passalacqua |
| author_sort | Caterina Caminiti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This meta-analysis of RCTs aimed to determine whether replacing face-to-face hospital care with telemedicine deteriorates psychosocial outcomes of adult cancer patients, in terms of quality of life (QoL), anxiety, distress, and depression. RCTs on interventions aimed at improving patient psychosocial outcomes were excluded. MEDLINE, EmBASE, and PsycInfo were searched on 13 May 2022 without language or date restrictions. In total, 1400 records were identified and 8 RCTs included (4434 subjects). Study methodological quality was moderate. Statistically significant improvements were observed in favor of the intervention for QoL (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.04), anxiety (SMD = −0.17, 95% CI −0.30 to −0.04, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and global distress (SMD = −0.38, 95% CI −0.51 to −0.25, <i>p</i> < 0.01). A meta-analysis on depression could not be performed. In subgroup analyses, the intervention appeared to be more beneficial for patients receiving active treatment vs. follow-up, for “other cancer types” vs. breast cancer, and for “other modes of administration” vs. telephone. Given the many potential advantages of being assisted at home, telemedicine appears to be a viable option in oncology. However, more research is necessary to determine the types of patients who may benefit the most from these alternative care modalities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:41:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bcea1a2aea8b4fee908b66374fa40a6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:41:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-bcea1a2aea8b4fee908b66374fa40a6a2023-11-17T16:25:59ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-03-01157209010.3390/cancers15072090Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsCaterina Caminiti0Maria Antonietta Annunziata1Paola Di Giulio2Luciano Isa3Paola Mosconi4Maria Giulia Nanni5Michela Piredda6Claudio Verusio7Francesca Diodati8Giuseppe Maglietta9Rodolfo Passalacqua10Clinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyOncological Psychology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, ItalyDivision of Oncology, Hospital of Melegnano, 20064 Gorgonzola, ItalyLaboratory for Medical Research and Consumer Involvement, Department of Public Health, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyResearch Unit of Nursing Sciences, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Medical Oncology, Presidio Ospedaliero di Saronno, ASST Valle Olona, 21047 Saronno, ItalyClinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyClinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyMedical Oncology Division, Department of Oncology, ASST of Cremona, 26100 Cremona, ItalyThis meta-analysis of RCTs aimed to determine whether replacing face-to-face hospital care with telemedicine deteriorates psychosocial outcomes of adult cancer patients, in terms of quality of life (QoL), anxiety, distress, and depression. RCTs on interventions aimed at improving patient psychosocial outcomes were excluded. MEDLINE, EmBASE, and PsycInfo were searched on 13 May 2022 without language or date restrictions. In total, 1400 records were identified and 8 RCTs included (4434 subjects). Study methodological quality was moderate. Statistically significant improvements were observed in favor of the intervention for QoL (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.04), anxiety (SMD = −0.17, 95% CI −0.30 to −0.04, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and global distress (SMD = −0.38, 95% CI −0.51 to −0.25, <i>p</i> < 0.01). A meta-analysis on depression could not be performed. In subgroup analyses, the intervention appeared to be more beneficial for patients receiving active treatment vs. follow-up, for “other cancer types” vs. breast cancer, and for “other modes of administration” vs. telephone. Given the many potential advantages of being assisted at home, telemedicine appears to be a viable option in oncology. However, more research is necessary to determine the types of patients who may benefit the most from these alternative care modalities.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/7/2090cancertelemedicinevirtual carepsychosocial healthquality of lifeanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Caterina Caminiti Maria Antonietta Annunziata Paola Di Giulio Luciano Isa Paola Mosconi Maria Giulia Nanni Michela Piredda Claudio Verusio Francesca Diodati Giuseppe Maglietta Rodolfo Passalacqua Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Cancers cancer telemedicine virtual care psychosocial health quality of life anxiety |
| title | Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| title_full | Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| title_fullStr | Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| title_short | Psychosocial Impact of Virtual Cancer Care through Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| title_sort | psychosocial impact of virtual cancer care through technology a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| topic | cancer telemedicine virtual care psychosocial health quality of life anxiety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/7/2090 |
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