Cancer treatment is complex and involves many challenges for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Digital health cancer care interventions are emerging to assist patients in their journey. The Digital Innovations in Cancer Care survey conducted by the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) provides insights into digital health tools for cancer care. This article summarizes the survey’s key findings on the adoption, benefits, and challenges of integrating digital technology into cancer treatment plans.
Embracing Digital Health in Cancer Care
The first 30 days after surgery are a critical and mentally and physically challenging period for patients. It is also a dangerous time with the potential of complications, readmission, and potential post-surgical-related mortality. Digital health tools effectively track and communicate symptoms and health concerns between in-office appointments. These tools enhance the overall care experience for patients and enable healthcare providers to make informed decisions.
The survey’s findings highlight the healthcare community’s openness to embracing solutions in digital health in cancer care. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is one digital health intervention used in cancer care. RPM enables healthcare providers to track patient vital signs remotely after surgery.
Implementation and Adoption Trends
The survey categorizes respondents into three groups based on their engagement with RPM: those actively implementing or piloting RPM, those considering or planning to implement it, and those not considering it. 40% of respondents reported actively implementing or piloting RPM for cancer care, while 43% expressing interest in its adoption. These results show significant inclination towards integrating digital health for cancer care technologies, indicating a shift towards a more patient-centric and technology-driven approach to care.
Patient and Caregiver Roles
Caregivers play a crucial role in facilitating the successful integration of digital health technologies into cancer care. The survey highlights varying patient and caregiver engagement levels with digital health cancer technology. According to the survey, 19% of caregivers assist patients in using technology, while 14% track health data on behalf of the patient.
Additionally, 11% of caregivers use digital health cancer technology with patients. 58% of caregivers report that the individuals they care for are actively using technology to monitor their health information. Among patients, 42% have yet to embrace technology for health tracking, while 40% are contemplating its usage.
Trends in Data Collection with Digital Health Tools
The survey showed symptom tracking (43%) and vital signs monitoring (39%) as the most commonly collected data types. Moreover, 35% of practices intend to offer remote patient monitoring to all patients undergoing active treatment. Interestingly, a significant portion (26%) determine patient populations for RPM based on treatment types, underlining a targeted and personalized approach to care.
The survey also reveals varying utilization timeframes among patients and caregivers. A considerable percentage leveraging RPM throughout all stages of cancer treatment. For instance, roughly 45% of patients and caregivers use RPM throughout all stages of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, 25% leverage RPM during their current treatment and 20% opt to use it during specific treatment phases, such as chemotherapy. Additionally, 6% of patients started but discontinued RPM, showing the need for solutions that seamlessly integrate into patients’ lives.
Understanding Digital Health in Cancer Care
The ACCC’s Digital Innovations in Cancer Care survey underscores the growth of digital health tools in cancer care. From implementation trends to patient engagement levels, the survey’s insights emphasize the potential of remote patient monitoring to enhance patient outcomes and streamline healthcare provider decisions. As technology continues to reshape the healthcare landscape, the integration of RPM stands poised to revolutionize cancer care for the better.
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