Efficacy of technology-based psychosocial interventions on quality of life and psychological outcomes in adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled randomized controlled trials of technology-based psychosocial interventions for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Ten trials involving 747 participants were included. Interventions were associated with a small improvement in overall quality of life (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.39, p = 0.001) and a small-to-moderate reduction in anxiety (SMD = - 0.35, 95% CI - 0.65 to - 0.05, p = 0.02). Quality-of-life benefit was not significant immediately after intervention but was evident at 6-24-month follow-up.

Key findings

• Overall quality of life improved modestly with technology-based interventions (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.39, p = 0.001).
• At 6-24-month follow-up, quality-of-life improvement was small-to-moderate (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.60, p = 0.004); the post-intervention effect was not significant.
• Anxiety decreased by a small-to-moderate amount (SMD = - 0.35, 95% CI - 0.65 to - 0.05, p = 0.02).
• Effects on depression (SMD = - 0.31), distress (SMD = - 0.04), and emotional well-being (SMD = 0.20) were not statistically significant.

Why it matters

Psychological distress and reduced quality of life can persist after childhood cancer. The pooled findings suggest technology-delivered psychosocial support may offer modest benefits in quality of life and anxiety, including at longer follow-up. However, the less consistent results across other psychological outcomes mean these interventions should not be assumed to improve all domains of well-being.

What to keep in mind

The review included only ten trials, and the abstract notes variable effects across psychological domains and calls for larger trials with standardized outcomes.