Digital health interventions for psychological and cognitive care in cancer patients and caregivers: A RE-AIM-based systematic review.
Melissa Heifez, Laura Ciria-Suarez, Sara Martín-Parra et al.
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In 30 seconds
This PRISMA-guided systematic review assessed the internal and external validity of digital interventions for psychological and cognitive concerns among people with cancer, caregivers, and family members, using the RE-AIM framework. It included 191 randomized and nonrandomized intervention studies involving 29.907 patients and caregivers. Reach, implementation, and effectiveness were reported most often; adoption and maintenance were least reported. The authors concluded that limited information on external validity constrains understanding of how well these interventions can be applied and scaled in routine cancer care.
Key findings
- The review included 191 studies involving 29.907 patients and caregivers.
- Reach, implementation, and effectiveness were the most frequently reported RE-AIM domains.
- Adoption and maintenance were the least reported domains, and external-validity data were limited.
Why it matters
Digital interventions may address psychological and cognitive challenges affecting people with cancer and those supporting them. However, evidence about effectiveness alone does not establish whether interventions can be adopted, maintained, or scaled in everyday care. The review highlights gaps in reporting these implementation dimensions, which matter when judging the broader applicability of digital approaches.
What to keep in mind
The review found limited reporting on external validity, adoption, and maintenance, restricting conclusions about applicability and scalability in routine cancer care.