JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Nearly half of breast cancer patients experience clinically significant mental distress within the first year of receiving their cancer diagnosis. There is an urgent need to identify scalable and cost-efficient ways of delivering empirically supported mental health interventions to breast cancer patients.

Objective:

The current study evaluated the feasibility of in-clinic recruitment for a mobile phone app study, as well as the usability and preliminary impact of a suite of mental health apps (IntelliCare) with phone coaching on psychosocial distress symptoms in recently diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Methods:

This pilot study adopted a within subject, 7-week pre-post study design. A total of 40 breast cancer patients were recruited at a U.S. NCI-designated Clinical Cancer Center. Self-reported distress (PHQ-4) and mood symptoms (PROMIS depression and anxiety scales) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. App usability was assessed at post-intervention.

Results:

The minimum recruitment threshold was met. There was a significant decrease in general distress symptoms, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety, from baseline to post-intervention. Overall, participants reported high levels of ease of app use and learning. Relatively lower scores for app usefulness and satisfaction were supported by qualitative feedback in favor of tailoring the apps more to breast cancer patients.

Conclusions:

There is a dire need for scalable, supportive interventions in cancer. Results from this study inform how scalable mobile phone-delivered programs with additional phone support can be used to support breast cancer patients.