Patient-facing mobile health applications for quality of life and treatment adherence during cancer chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Authors

Hari Prakash Gunisetty, Sunil Kumar Doddaiah, Tejaswini Bangalore Darukaradhya, Kavana Mallikarjun, Shafiya Taj, Rakshitha Ms, Avinash V Prabhu, Abdul Aziz

Published in

Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners. Pages 10781552261478233. Aug 20, 2026. Epub Aug 20, 2026.

Abstract

BackgroundCancer chemotherapy is associated with significant deterioration in quality of life (QoL) and challenges in treatment adherence. Mobile health (mHealth) applications represent a promising digital intervention for supporting patients throughout the chemotherapy trajectory.ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effectiveness of patient-facing mHealth applications in improving QoL and treatment adherence among adult cancer patients actively undergoing chemotherapy, and to quantify the pooled effect size through meta-analysis.MethodsA systematic search was conducted across seven databases from January 2014 to June 2026. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental, and cohort studies enrolling adults receiving chemotherapy with a patient-facing mHealth intervention reporting QoL or adherence outcomes were included.ResultsTwenty-two studies (n = 3505 participants; 14 RCTs, 5 quasi-experimental, 1 cluster-RCT, 1 protocol) across 11 countries were included. Of 19 studies reporting QoL outcomes, 17 (89%) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in favour of the mHealth intervention. The pooled random-effects estimate demonstrated a large, statistically significant effect on QoL (Hedges' g = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.336 to 1.626, P = 0.003; k = 9, n = 939). Medication adherence was significantly improved in five studies. Overall certainty of evidence was rated as moderate (GRADE).ConclusionsPatient-facing mHealth applications produce large, significant improvements in QoL during cancer chemotherapy. Interventions grounded in nursing theory and incorporating real-time clinician feedback yield the largest effects. Integration of mHealth into oncology pharmacy practice models is warranted. Standardised outcome reporting and head-to-head comparative trials are needed.

PMID:
42623013
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Aug 2026.

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