People with cancer and their family caregivers' personal experience of using supportive eHealth technology: A narrative review.

Andrew Darley,Eileen Furlong,Barbara Coughlan

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102030

Andrew Darley, Eileen Furlong + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102030

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Abstract

To synthesise existing qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of people living with cancer and their family caregivers using eHealth technology in their home setting. A narrative review using a systematic approach was utilised. Five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library) were searched using a tailored search strategy to identify primary research articles published between January 2005 and May 2021. Studies were quality appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme's Qualitative Studies Checklist and the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool, where relevant. Identified studies were appraised by three reviewers and data were extracted for analysis. Key themes were identified and agreed upon by the authors. 28 empirical studies were included in the review. Five major themes emerged: (i) understanding of cancer and its care (ii) alignment and integration of eHealth technology into daily life (iii) connection and collaboration with healthcare professionals, family and peers (iii) reassurance and sense of safety (iv) and the psychosocial impact on the self during the cancer experience. eHealth technology can have positive role in the lives of people with cancer and their family caregivers, beyond the intended health outcomes of the intervention. Individual preferences amongst people with cancer and their family caregivers using eHealth technology must be considered, especially regarding cancer information delivery, content and support methods. This review underlines a critical need for further in-depth evidence on the personal meaning and relationships people with cancer and their family caregivers develop with eHealth technology in an ambulatory care setting.

Highlights

Electronic health, commonly known as eHealth, is a valuable tool to address the care needs of people living with cancer (Ayyoubzadeh et al, 2020; Den Bakker et al, 2018) and their family caregivers (Marzaroti et al, 2018; Heynsbergh et al, 2018)
To answer the research question regarding what is known about the personal experi ence and meaning of people with cancer and their family caregivers using eHealth technology in their home setting, this section provides an overview of the studies identified and the five themes that were iden tified during analysis: (i) understanding of cancer and its care (ii) alignment and integration of eHealth technology into daily life (iii) connection and collaboration with healthcare professionals, family and peers (iii) reassurance and sense of safety (iv) and the psychosocial impact on the self during the cancer experience
Fifteen studies centred on the experiences of eHealth technology amongst participants in a single cancer type cohort, i.e., breast (n = 6), prostate (n = 2), colorectal (n = 1), pancreatic (n = 1), head and neck (n = 1), lung (n = 1), haematological (n = 1), pancreatic (n = 1) and brain (n = 1) cancer, while 13 studies focused on the experience of eHealth amongst a heterogenous cancer type sample, i.e. one or more cancer types

Summary

Introduction

The platforms in which eHealth-enabled care is delivered has considerably evolved and reflects the technology used in everyday life; from tele phone and web-based programmes to more recent inventions of smart phone, tablet and wearable activity tracker technologies (Haase et al, 2020). As the field is ever-developing, a principal focus within the evidence-base explores how people with cancer and family caregivers evaluate their experience using technology. While system usability is important in refining and improving eHealth technology to achieve intended health out comes, it does not consider the personal meaning or impact of the technology in the life of the user. The authors noted that while the focus of eHealth research is often focused on usability testing, there is a gap in current evidence that explores its personal meaning in the lives of those using it and the relationship they develop with the technology

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