A Symptom Management Application for Children at the Early Stage of Cancer Survivorship and Their Caregivers

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the efficacy of the mHealth app in improving symptoms experienced by children in the early stage of cancer survivorship, including physical function, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, peer relationships, and pain interference, and at improving the quality of life (QoL) of the children's primary caregivers The main question it aims to answer is whether survivors who receive the symptom management mHealth app intervention will report improved symptoms, i.e., improved physical function; lower levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and fatigue; better peer relationships; and lower pain interference 3 months after starting the intervention. Additionally, we hypothesized that the primary caregivers (either the mother or father) would report an improved QoL 3 months after starting the intervention. Participants in the intervention group will use the mHealth app for 12 weeks with personalised nurse support via interactive communication technologies. They are required to complete questionnaires at baseline (during medical follow-up), 1, 2, and 3 months (via electronic-based systems in the mobile app) Besides, semi-structured interviews and will be conducted to examine the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the intervention.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Chinese paediatric cancer survivors will be included if they

* are aged 9 to 16 years,
* are able to read Chinese and communicate in Chinese,
* have completed active cancer treatment (within the previous 2 years), as early symptom management support is crucial to reduce the symptom burden in survivors and their caregivers throughout their survivorship, and
* have a smartphone or tablet and are willing to install the mHealth app.

The primary caregiver of the paediatric cancer survivors (either the mother or father)

* are able to read Chinese and communicate in Chinese, and
* have a smartphone or tablet and are willing to install the mHealth app with their children surviving cancer.

Exclusion Criteria:

Chinese paediatric cancer survivors will be excluded if they

* have cognitive impairments or psychiatric illnesses
* are currently participating in other symptom management studies, or
* have evidence of secondary malignancy or recurrence

The primary caregivers of the paediatric cancer survivors (either the mother or father) will be excluded if they have cognitive impairments or psychiatric illnesses.

Conditions3

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