Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42505188›Full record

SynthesisCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2026

Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Digital Health Interventions on Symptom Management and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Undergoing Systemic Therapy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Omar Alqaisi, Safia Darwish, Faten Harb, Melinda Hysenaj, Lorent Sijarina, Patricia Tai

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. 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

6 authors.

Omar AlqaisiNursing Department, Al-Zaytoonah University, Airport Street, Amman 11733, Jordan.ORCID 0009-0006-9760-651X
Safia DarwishAdministration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Menoufia 32511, Egypt.
Faten HarbDepartment of Allied Medical Professions-Associated Nursing Program, Technical College-Middle East University, Amman 11831, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0002-0817-9792
Melinda HysenajFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, 1000 Prishtina, Kosovo.ORCID 0009-0009-9511-6033
Lorent SijarinaFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, 1000 Prishtina, Kosovo.ORCID 0009-0000-9309-9959
Patricia TaiDepartment of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7700-776X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer patients receiving systemic therapy experience substantial treatment-related symptoms. Nurse-led digital health interventions, e.g., interactive voice response systems, web platforms, mobile apps, and telehealth, have emerged as strategies to strengthen supportive care. To evaluate its effectiveness, this systematic review summarizes evidence exclusively from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, four databases were searched from inception to January 2025 for eligible RCTs involving adults undergoing anticancer therapy; evaluating nurse-led or nurse-co-led interventions using digital or telecommunication technologies; reporting validated symptom or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed. Nine RCTs (N = 3344) met criteria; seven had low risk of bias. Interventions using telephone systems, web portals, mobile apps, or videoconferencing reduced symptom burden and improved HRQoL. The Symptom Care at Home system reduced symptom burden by ~43%, with greatest effects from combined automated monitoring and nurse practitioner follow-up. Additional benefits included improved anxiety, self-efficacy, patient participation, fewer severe toxicities and hospitalization days. In conclusion, nurse-led digital interventions effectively reduce symptom burden and support HRQoL during systemic therapy. Multicomponent models integrating automated monitoring with structured nursing follow-up and decision support appear most beneficial.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsQuality of LifeDigital HealthHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTelemedicinecancerdigital healthhealth-related quality of lifenurse-led interventionpatient-reported outcomesrandomized controlled trialsymptom managementsystemic therapytelehealth

Identifiers

PMID42505188
PMCPMC13408374

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.