CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 48Mobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsCancer survivorship and careDigital Mental Health Interventions

Adherence to Report and Patient Perception of an Interactive App for Managing Symptoms During Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Descriptive Study of Logged and Interview Data

Open access
Langius-Eklöf, Ann, Christiansen, Mats, Lindström, Veronica, Blomberg, Karin, Hälleberg Nyman, Maria, Wengström, Yvonne, Sundberg, Kay·2017·JMIR Cancer
DOI 10.2196/cancer.7599PMC PMC5686419
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer experience symptoms related to both the cancer itself and its treatment, and it is evident that patients with prostate cancer have unmet supportive care needs related to their disease. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the amount of research within the field of mobile health and the use of apps as tools for managing illness. The main challenge is to develop a mobile technology to its full potential of being interactive in real time. The interactive app Interaktor, which aims to identify and manage symptoms in real time includes (1) a function for patients' assessment of the occurrence, frequency, and distress of symptoms; (2) a connection to a monitoring Web interface; (3) a risk assessment model that sends alerts via text message to health care providers; (4) continuous access to evidence-based self-care advice and links to relevant websites for more information; and (5) graphs for the patients and health care providers to view the history of symptom reporting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate user behavior, adherence to reporting, and the patients' experiences of using Interaktor during radiotherapy for localized advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: The patients were instructed to report daily during the time of treatment and then for an additional 3 weeks. Logged data from patients' use of the app were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Interview data about experiences of using the app were analyzed with content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients participated in the study. Logged data showed that adherence to daily reporting of symptoms was high (87%). The patients used all the symptoms included in the app. Of the reports, 15.6% generated alerts to the health care providers. Overall, the patients found that it was easy and not particularly time-consuming to send a daily report, and many described it as becoming a routine. Reporting symptoms facilitated reflection on their symptoms and gave them a sense of security. Few technological problems were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Interaktor increased patients' sense of security and their reflections on their own well-being and thereby served as a supportive tool for the self-management of symptoms during treatment of prostate cancer. Some further development of the app's content might be beneficial for future use.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.2196/cancer.7599

Cites

4 of 4 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Interaktor, presented by Langius-Eklöf et al [48], broadened navigation by increasing patients' sense of security and self-reflection, thereby embedding psychosocial support directly into routine symptom monitoring.

    “Interaktor, presented by Langius-Eklöf et al [48], also broadened navigation by increasing patients’ sense of security and self-reflection, thereby embedding psychosocial support directly into routine symptom monitoring.”

    From User-Centered Design for Digital Patient-Navigation Tools in Oncology: Scoping Review (2026) · cites this paper as [48]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 42

  1. [1]Arnold M Karim-Kos HE Coebergh JW Byrnes G Antilla A Ferlay J Renehan AG Forman D Soerjomataram I Recent trends in incidence of five common cancers in 26 European countries since 1988: analysis of the European Cancer Observatory Eur J Cancer 2015 6 51 9 1164 87 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.09.002 24120180 24120180 · DOI
  2. [2]Tyson MD Penson DF Resnick MJ The comparative oncologic effectiveness of available management strategies for clinically localized prostate cancer Urol Oncol 2017 2 35 2 51 8 10.1016/j.urolonc.2016.03.021 27133953 27133953 PMC5085892 · DOI
  3. [3]Paterson C Robertson A Smith A Nabi G Identifying the unmet supportive care needs of men living with and beyond prostate cancer: a systematic review Eur J Oncol Nurs 2015 8 19 4 405 18 10.1016/j.ejon.2014.12.007 25613370 25613370 · DOI · Paper page
  4. [4]Blomberg K Wengström Y Sundberg K Browall M Isaksson AK Nyman MH Langius-Eklöf A Symptoms and self-care strategies during and six months after radiotherapy for prostate cancer - scoping the perspectives of patients, professionals and literature Eur J Oncol Nurs 2016 4 21 139 45 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.09.004 26482003 26482003 · DOI
  5. [5]Budäus L Bolla M Bossi A Cozzarini C Crook J Widmark A Wiegel T Functional outcomes and complications following radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a critical analysis of the literature Eur Urol 2012 1 61 1 112 27 10.1016/j.eururo.2011.09.027 22001105 22001105 · DOI
  6. [6]Liberman D Mehus B Elliott SP Urinary adverse effects of pelvic radiotherapy Transl Androl Urol 2014 6 3 2 186 95 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4683.2014.04.01 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4683.2014.04.01 26813159 26813159 PMC4708162 · DOI
  7. [7]Paterson C Robertson A Nabi G Exploring prostate cancer survivors' self-management behaviours and examining the mechanism effect that links coping and social support to health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression: a prospective longitudinal study Eur J Oncol Nurs 2015 4 19 2 120 8 10.1016/j.ejon.2014.10.008 25497067 25497067 · DOI
  8. [8]Hsiao CP Moore IM Insel KC Merkle CJ Symptom self-management strategies in patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer J Clin Nurs 2014 2 23 3-4 440 9 10.1111/jocn.12178 23551614 23551614 · DOI
  9. [9]Chambers SK Pinnock C Lepore SJ Hughes S O'Connell DL A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for men with prostate cancer and their partners Patient Educ Couns 2011 11 85 2 e75 88 10.1016/j.pec.2011.01.027 21334159 21334159 · DOI
  10. [10]Pachman DR Barton DL Swetz KM Loprinzi CL Troublesome symptoms in cancer survivors: fatigue, insomnia, neuropathy, and pain J Clin Oncol 2012 10 20 30 30 3687 96 10.1200/JCO.2012.41.7238 23008320 23008320 · DOI
  11. [11]Maher EJ Managing the consequences of cancer treatment and the English National Cancer Survivorship Initiative Acta Oncol 2013 2 52 2 225 32 10.3109/0284186X.2012.746467 23237053 23237053 · DOI
  12. [12]Kotronoulas G Kearney N Maguire R Harrow A Di Domenico D Croy S MacGillivray S What is the value of the routine use of patient-reported outcome measures toward improvement of patient outcomes, processes of care, and health service outcomes in cancer care? A systematic review of controlled trials J Clin Oncol 2014 5 10 32 14 1480 501 10.1200/JCO.2013.53.5948 24711559 24711559 · DOI
  13. [13]Valderas JM Kotzeva A Espallargues M Guyatt G Ferrans CE Halyard MY Revicki DA Symonds T Parada A Alonso J The impact of measuring patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice: a systematic review of the literature Qual Life Res 2008 3 17 2 179 93 10.1007/s11136-007-9295-0 18175207 18175207 · DOI · Paper page
  14. [14]Ruland CM Andersen T Jeneson A Moore S Grimsbø GH Børøsund E Ellison MC Effects of an internet support system to assist cancer patients in reducing symptom distress: a randomized controlled trial Cancer Nurs 2013 36 1 6 17 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31824d90d4 22495503 22495503 · DOI
  15. [16]Denis F Lethrosne C Pourel N Molinier O Pointreau Y Domont J Bourgeois H Senellart H Trémolières P Lizée T Bennouna J Urban T El Khouri C Charron A Septans A Balavoine M Landry S Solal-Céligny P Letellier C Randomized trial comparing a web-mediated follow-up with routine surveillance in lung cancer patients J Natl Cancer Inst 2017 9 1 109 9 10.1093/jnci/djx029 28423407 28423407 · DOI · Paper page
  16. [18]Nasi G Cucciniello M Guerrazzi C The role of mobile technologies in health care processes: the case of cancer supportive care J Med Internet Res 2015 2 12 17 2 e26 10.2196/jmir.3757 25679446 25679446 PMC4342745 · DOI
  17. [19]Maguire R Ream E Richardson A Connaghan J Johnston B Kotronoulas G Pedersen V McPhelim J Pattison N Smith A Webster L Taylor A Kearney N Development of a novel remote patient monitoring system: the advanced symptom management system for radiotherapy to improve the symptom experience of patients with lung cancer receiving radiotherapy Cancer Nurs 2015 38 2 E37 47 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000150 24836956 24836956 · DOI
  18. [20]Paterson C Jones M Rattray J Lauder W Nabi G What is the mechanism effect that links social support to coping and psychological outcome within individuals affected by prostate cancer? Real time data collection using mobile technology Eur J Oncol Nurs 2016 4 21 126 33 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.09.002 26440544 26440544 · DOI
  19. [21]Wang J Wang Y Wei C Yao NA Yuan A Shan Y Yuan C Smartphone interventions for long-term health management of chronic diseases: an integrative review Telemed J E Health 2014 6 20 6 570 83 10.1089/tmj.2013.0243 24787747 24787747 · DOI · Paper page
  20. [23]Hamine S Gerth-Guyette E Faulx D Green BB Ginsburg AS Impact of mHealth chronic disease management on treatment adherence and patient outcomes: a systematic review J Med Internet Res 2015 2 24 17 2 e52 10.2196/jmir.3951 25803266 25803266 PMC4376208 · DOI · Paper page
  21. [24]Olsson CE Alsadius D Pettersson N Tucker SL Wilderäng U Johansson KA Steineck G Patient-reported sexual toxicity after radiation therapy in long-term prostate cancer survivors Br J Cancer 2015 9 1 113 5 802 8 10.1038/bjc.2015.275 26241816 26241816 PMC4559833 · DOI
  22. [25]Olsson L Jakobsson Ung E Swedberg K Ekman I Efficacy of person-centred care as an intervention in controlled trials - a systematic review J Clin Nurs 2013 2 22 3-4 456 65 10.1111/jocn.12039 23231540 23231540 · DOI
  23. [26]Sundberg K Langius Eklöf A Blomberg K Isaksson AK Wengström Y Feasibility of an interactive ICT-platform for early assessment and management of patient-reported symptoms during radiotherapy for prostate cancer Eur J Oncol Nurs 2015 10 19 5 523 8 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.02.013 25813529 25813529 · DOI
  24. [27]Algilani S Langius-Eklöf A Kihlgren A Blomberg K An interactive ICT platform for early assessment and management of patient-reported concerns among older adults living in ordinary housing - development and feasibility J Clin Nurs 2017 6 26 11-12 1575 83 10.1111/jocn.13468 27381423 27381423 · DOI
  25. [28]Sundberg K Wengström Y Blomberg K Hälleberg-Nyman M Frank C Langius-Eklöf A Early detection and management of symptoms using an interactive smartphone application (Interaktor) during radiotherapy for prostate cancer Support Care Cancer 2017 7 25 7 2195 204 10.1007/s00520-017-3625-8 28236145 28236145 PMC5445148 · DOI
  26. [29]Mort M Roberts C Pols J Domenech M Moser I EFORTT investigators Ethical implications of home telecare for older people: a framework derived from a multisited participative study Health Expect 2015 6 18 3 438 49 10.1111/hex.12109 23914810 23914810 PMC5060789 · DOI · Paper page
  27. [31]Portenoy RK Thaler HT Kornblith AB Lepore JM Friedlander-Klar H Kiyasu E Sobel K Coyle N Kemeny N Norton L The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale: an instrument for the evaluation of symptom prevalence, characteristics and distress Eur J Cancer 1994 30A 9 1326 36 7999421 7999421
  28. [32]Hsieh HF Shannon SE Three approaches to qualitative content analysis Qual Health Res 2005 11 15 9 1277 88 10.1177/1049732305276687 16204405 16204405 · DOI · Paper page
  29. [33]Krippendorff K Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology 2013 Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications, Inc
  30. [34]Sandelowski M Real qualitative researchers do not count: the use of numbers in qualitative research Res Nurs Health 2001 6 24 3 230 40 11526621 11526621
  31. [36]Børøsund E Cvancarova M Ekstedt M Moore SM Ruland CM How user characteristics affect use patterns in web-based illness management support for patients with breast and prostate cancer J Med Internet Res 2013 3 1 15 3 e34 10.2196/jmir.2285 23454601 23454601 PMC3636230 · DOI
  32. [38]Brundage MD Feldman-Stewart D Tishelman C How do interventions designed to improve provider-patient communication work? Illustrative applications of a framework for communication Acta Oncol 2010 49 2 136 43 10.3109/02841860903483684 20100151 20100151 · DOI
  33. [39]Angel S Frederiksen KN Challenges in achieving patient participation: a review of how patient participation is addressed in empirical studies Int J Nurs Stud 2015 9 52 9 1525 38 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.04.008 25980558 25980558 · DOI
  34. [40]Sahlsten MJ Larsson IE Plos KA Lindencrona CS Hindrance for patient participation in nursing care Scand J Caring Sci 2005 9 19 3 223 9 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2005.00336.x 16101850 16101850 · DOI
  35. [41]Hälleberg Nyman M Frank C Langius-Eklöf A Blomberg K Sundberg K Wengström Y Patients' perspective on participation in care with or without the support of a smartphone app during radiotherapy for prostate cancer: qualitative study JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017 7 26 5 7 e107 10.2196/mhealth.6829 28747294 28747294 PMC5553005 · DOI
  36. [42]Sygna K Johansen S Ruland CM Recruitment challenges in clinical research including cancer patients and their caregivers. A randomized controlled trial study and lessons learned Trials 2015 9 25 16 428 10.1186/s13063-015-0948-y 26407547 26407547 PMC4583740 · DOI
  37. [43]Kapadia V Ariani A Li J Ray PK Emerging ICT implementation issues in aged care Int J Med Inform 2015 11 84 11 892 900 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2015.07.002 26250987 26250987 · DOI · Paper page
  38. [44]While A Dewsbury G Nursing and information and communication technology (ICT): a discussion of trends and future directions Int J Nurs Stud 2011 10 48 10 1302 10 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.02.020 21474135 21474135 · DOI
  39. [45]Stellefson M Chaney B Barry AE Chavarria E Tennant B Walsh-Childers K Sriram PS Zagora J Web 2.0 chronic disease self-management for older adults: a systematic review J Med Internet Res 2013 2 14 15 2 e35 10.2196/jmir.2439 23410671 23410671 PMC3636299 · DOI · Paper page
  40. [47]Ernsting C Dombrowski SU Oedekoven M O Sullivan JL Kanzler M Kuhlmey A Gellert P Using smartphones and health apps to change and manage health behaviors: a population-based survey J Med Internet Res 2017 4 5 19 4 e101 10.2196/jmir.6838 28381394 28381394 PMC5399221 · DOI · Paper page
  41. [48]Greysen SR Chin Garcia C Sudore RL Cenzer IS Covinsky KE Functional impairment and Internet use among older adults: implications for meaningful use of patient portals J Am Med Assoc Intern Med 2014 7 174 7 1188 90 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1864 24839165 PMC4408915 24839165 · DOI
  42. [49]Kottorp A Nygård L Hedman A Öhman A Malinowsky C Rosenberg L Lindqvist E Ryd C Access to and use of everyday technology among older people: an occupational justice issue – but for whom? J Occup Sci 2016 3 16 23 3 382 88 10.1080/14427591.2016.1151457 · DOI

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Langius-Eklöf, A., Christiansen, M., Lindström, V., Blomberg, K., Hälleberg Nyman, M., Wengström, Y., & Sundberg, K.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • Örebro University (SE)
ORCID
Venue
JMIR Cancer
Publisher
JMIR Publications Inc.
Published
2017-10-31
Volume
3
Issue
2
Pages
e18
ISSN
2369-1999 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2196/cancer.7599
PMC
PMC5686419
OpenAlex
W2765263343
Cited by
48
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5
FWCI
9.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • JMIR Cancer (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Karolinska Institutet
  • Vetenskapsrådet
  • Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
prostate cancer, radiotherapy, symptom management, mobile health apps, patient experience, self-management, supportive care

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review