Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42084677›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Technology-based applications for relatives and caregivers of people with advanced breast cancer-a scoping review.

Sara Marquard, Isabel Jalaß, Manfred Hülsken-Giesler

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Sara MarquardFaculty of Business Management and Social Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Osnabrück, Germany. s.marquard@hs-osnabrueck.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1565-7569
Isabel JalaßFaculty of Business Management and Social Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7653-7213
Manfred Hülsken-GieslerDepartment of Nursing Science, Institute of Health Research and Education, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-9093

Funding

Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt 16SV8961
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo provide an overview of the current state of international research on technology-based applications for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer, with a particular focus on advanced breast cancer.

methodsThis scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR guideline. The PCC framework was used to define the search terms, and develop the search strategy for the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The systematic search identified 13 relevant articles describing ten different technology-based applications. One additional article was identified through a manual search.

resultsIn total, 14 studies covering ten distinct interventions were included. Some interventions were adapted from face-to-face programmes for digital delivery, whereas only a minority were explicitly informed by theoretical models from psychology or health science. The included studies addressed five main areas: informational support, mental and psychosocial support and enhancement of quality of life, physical and practical support, communication support, and preparation for caregiving and death. Evaluations reported predominantly positive findings, particularly with regard to quality of life, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and coping. However, most studies focused on advanced cancer more broadly rather than on advanced breast cancer specifically.

conclusionsThe reviewed literature suggests that technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer are available in several countries and address a range of support needs. However, no intervention tailored to relatives of patients with advanced breast cancer was identified as having been fully developed and evaluated. The findings highlight the need for future research on targeted, sustainable digital support for this group. The development of the Gesi-BK platform is based on the results of this scoping review.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCaregiversFamilyAdaptation, PsychologicalDigital HealthFemaleHumansQuality of LifeSocial SupportAdvanced cancerBreast cancerDigital healthInformal caregiversMobile applicationsPsychological well-beingQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID42084677
PMCPMC13144206

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.