JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with cancer, experience identity and existential concerns during their cancer trajectory leaving them anxious and loaded with grief which they often carry alone. Thus, cohesion with other AYAs is strongly needed. In co-creation with AYAs with cancer a smartphone application has been developed, providing an information-bank, a symptom tracker, and a social community platform targeted this patient group.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life (QoL) in AYAs with cancer when using the AYA cancer app.

Methods:

Via youth support initiatives participants were recruited from hospitals in all regions in Denmark. Inclusion criteria were young cancer patients aged 15-29 years, either initiated cancer treatment within 30 days, or in follow up after cancer treatment. For analysis purpose the participants were divided in a treatment and a follow up group. Participants were asked to use the AYA cancer app for six weeks. Prior to and after the six weeks app use, they completed the QoL questionnaire, EORTC-QLQ-30.

Results:

In total, 81 participants were recruited. Four participants did not answer the questionnaire after six weeks and six participants did not use the application. In the treatment group, (n=36), significant improvement was found in two domains: “Role functioning” (baseline median 33.33 vs. six weeks median 66.67, P=.04) and “Pain” (baseline median 33.33 vs. six weeks median 16.67, P=.04). The “Global health/Overall QoL” scale remained stable (baseline median 33.33 vs. six weeks median 66.67, P =.25). In the follow up group, (n=35), significant improvement was found in three domains: “Physical functioning” (baseline median 79.23 vs. six weeks median 82.85, P =.03), “Cognitive functioning” (baseline median 62.38 vs. six weeks median 69.52, P =.017), and “Social functioning” (baseline median 76.19 vs. six weeks median 85.71, P =.046) and in the “Global health/Overall QoL” scale (baseline median 57.14 vs. six weeks median 75.0, P =.00026).

Conclusions:

For both AYAs in treatment and in follow up, results indicate an association between the use of the AYA cancer app and significant improvement in specific QoL domains. In the follow up group the global health/overall QoL score improved significantly, in the treatment group it remained stable.