Table 1.
Characteristics of randomized trials included in the systematic review on telehealth for cancer patientsa.
| Author, year, country | Technology | Participants | Objectives | Intervention | Comparator | Intervention time |
| Badger, [12] 2012, USA | Telephone | 70 breast cancer patients and their supportive partners (SPs) | To evaluate the efficacy of two telephone-delivered interventions in improving quality of life among Latinas with breast cancer and their family members or friends | Telephone interpersonal counseling delivered by trained interventionist | Telephone health education delivered by trained professionals | 8 weeks: eight weekly sessions for patients and four sessions every other week for SPs |
| Borosund [27] 2014, Sweden | Internet | 167 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of the components of a Web-based support tool on symptom distress, anxiety and depression | Two intervention arms: (1) Internet-based patient-provider communication (IPPC) tool, (2) Webchoice + IPPC. Webchoice facilitates symptom monitoring, self-management and communication with other patients | Usual standard of care at the hospital of treatment | 6 months |
| Duffecy, [] 2012, USA | Internet | 31 patients with any cancer | To evaluate the feasibility of a Web-based intervention in increasing adherence to the intervention and efficacy in reducing symptoms of depression in post cancer treatment survivors | Individual Internet Intervention +Internet Support Group (ISG). ISG included a discussion board and features to enhance supportive accountability | Individual Internet Intervention is a self-management program, based on cognitive behavioral principles, for the treatment of depression | 8 weeks |
| Freeman, [28] 2014, USA | Video-conference | 118 breast cancer survivors | To evaluate the effect of an imagery-based group intervention on quality of life in breast cancer survivors | Two intervention groups with five 4-hr weekly group session delivered by trained professionals via live sessions or video-conferencing plus weekly telephone calls | Wait-list controls | 3 months |
| Gotay, [25] 2007, USA | Telephone | 305 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-delivered telephone support intervention on psychosocial outcomes in patients with a first recurrence of breast cancer | Telephone counseling/ information sessions delivered by trained peer counselors at a breast cancer advocacy organization | Standard care | 4-8 sessions weekly with 1-2 calls per week for 1 month |
| Harrison, [19] 2011, Australia | Telephone | 75 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients | To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-delivered telephone supportive intervention in reducing unmet supportive care needs, reducing health service utilization, and improving HR-QOL post- discharge from the hospital after surgery for CRC | CONNECT: post-surgery follow-up telephone calls delivered by an experienced colorectal cancer nurse who has undergone training in telephone communication | Usual care: follow- up appointment with a general practitioner and surgeon | 5 calls over 6 months |
| Hawkins, [22] 2010, USA | Telephone and web | 434 breast patients | To evaluate the mediating processes of two communication interventions to improve HR-QOL in patients with breast cancer | 3 intervention groups: (1) Access to the Web-based comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS), (2) Telephone-based Cancer information mentor, (3) CHESS + Cancer Information Mentor | Internet training and access | 10 times over 6 months |
| Kim, [14] 2013, Korea | Telephone | 108 patients with any solid-organ tumor | To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized education and telemonitoring in improving pain, distress, anxiety, depression, HR-QOL, and performance in outpatients with advanced cancers | Telemonitoring performed by an NP trained in pain management | Standardized pain education based on the WHO and NCCN pain control guidelines delivered by NP on the first visit | 30 mins every day for 1 week |
| Kroenke, [23] 2010, USA | Telephone and Internet | 405 cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of a telephone-based care management combined with automated symptom monitoring on depression and pain in patients with cancer | Telephonic care management by a nurse care manager combined with automated symptom monitoring (via interactive voice-recorded telephone calls or Web-based surveys) | Usual care provided by oncologists. | Follow-up calls and automated symptom monitoring staggered over 12 months |
| Lepore, [29] 2014, USA | Internet | 184 breast cancer patients | To test the mental health benefits of two Internet support group (ISG) interventions in women with breast cancer | Pro-social Internet support group (ISG) which includes all features of the Standard-ISG plus tips on recognizing and responding to others’ need for support and participation in a breast cancer awareness outreach activity | Standard-ISG with weekly live 90-minutes chats facilitated by PhD level interventionist plus discussion board for asynchronous text communication | 6 weeks |
| Livingston, [20] 2009, Australia | Telephone | 571 male colorectal (CRC) and prostate cancer patients | To evaluate the psychological impact of a referral and telephone intervention, involving information and support, among men with CRC and prostate cancer | Cancer Helpline: telephone calls from cancer nurses to help patients address issues they may experience during cancer care. 2 intervention groups: (1) Active Referral—4: four outcalls, (2) Active Referral—1: one outcall. | Passive Referral: usual care which involved a specialist referral to the Helpline but contact was at the participant’s initiative | Active Referral—4: four outcalls staggered over 6 months post-diagnosis. Active Referral—1: outcall within 1 week of diagnosis. |
| Loprinzi, [18] 2011, USA | Telephone | 25 breast cancer survivors | To evaluate the effect of a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program for increasing resiliency and for decreasing stress and anxiety among breast cancer mentors who themselves were previously diagnosed with breast cancer | The SMART program: consisted of 3 parts: 2 small-group, 90-minute sessions teaching the SMART program; a brief individual follow-up session with a study investigator; and 3 follow-up telephone calls | Wait list group. Intervention delayed by 12 weeks. | 12 weeks: telephone calls at 4-week intervals. Each call lasted approximately 15 minutes |
| Marcus, [21] 2009, USA | Telephone | 304 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of a telephone counseling program on psychosocial outcomes among breast cancer patients post-treatment | Usual care + Telephone Counseling program delivered by four Masters-level psychosocial oncology counselors | Usual care: booklet listing psychosocial and other social service and rehabilitation resources in their community for breast cancer | 16 sessions delivered over a 12-month period. Each session lasted 45 mins |
| Nelson, [24] 2008, USA | Telephone | 50 cervical cancer patients | To evaluate the feasibility of a psychosocial telephone counseling intervention designed for patients with cervical cancer on improving HR-QOL | Psychosocial telephone counseling intervention, delivered by a psychologist, designed to help women cope with the stressful events and feelings of distress associated with cervical cancer | Usual care | 5 weeks: weekly session about 45 to 50 min in length + 1 month booster later |
| Park, [16] 2012, Korea | Telephone | 48 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of a psycho-educational support program on HR-QOL and symptom experience for women in the first year post-breast cancer treatment survivorship | Psychoeducation plus Standard care. The psychoeducational program consisted of individual face-to-face education using a participant handbook, telephone-delivered health-coaching sessions, and small-group meetings | Standard care from their medical team plus a short booklet on cancer care | 12 weeks: 10-30 mins telephone coaching sessions every other week |
| Rustoen, [13] 2013, Norway | Telephone | 179 cancer patients with bone metastasis | To evaluate the efficacy of PRO-SELF in decreasing pain intensity scores and increasing opioid intake in cancer patients. | PRO-SELF: Individualized pain management education delivered by oncology intervention nurses who visited patients in their homes at weeks 1, 3, and 6 and conducted telephone interviews at weeks 2, 4, and 5 | Cancer pain management booklet plus home visits and nurse telephone interviews with the same frequency as patients in the intervention to monitor level of adherence with completing the pain diary | 6 weeks |
| Ryhanen, [31] 2013, Finland | Internet | 90 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of the Breast Cancer Patient Pathway (BCPP) program on patients’ empowerment process. Specifically looking at quality of life, anxiety, and side-effects | Hospital standard of care plus the BCPP program - an Internet-based patient education tool to increase patients’ knowledge about breast cancer | Oral and written education materials according to hospital standards | Throughout the treatment period, average of 9 months |
| Sandgren, [26] 2006, USA | Telephone | 218 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effectiveness of two telephone-based interventions in improving mood and HR-QOL in patients with breast cancer | Telephone counseling including health education and emotional expression therapy delivered by oncology nurses | Standard care | 5 weekly 30-minutes phone calls, with a 6th, follow-up call, made approx. 3 months later |
| Sherman, [17] 2012, USA | Telephone | 249 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of three technology-based interventions on physical, emotional, and social adjustment of women with early-stage breast cancer | 3 intervention groups: (1) usual care + four phase-specific psychoeducational videos, (2) Usual care + four phase-specific telephone counseling sessions delivered by nurse interventionist, (3) usual care + phase-specific psycho-educational videos+ phase-specific telephone counseling sessions | Usual care was standardized across all sites according to national treatment protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. | Phase-specific: four phases of the breast cancer experience: diagnosis, post-surgery, adjuvant therapy and ongoing recovery |
| Stanton, [30] 2013, USA | Internet | 88 breast cancer patients | To evaluate the effect of an Internet-based invention designed for chronicling the cancer experience and promoting communication | Project Connect Online: patients taught how to develop personalized website where they can journal their cancer experience and share content with their social networks | Waiting-list control | 6 months |
aHR-QOL: Health-related Quality of Life; CHESS: Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System; WHO: World Health Organization; NP: nurse practitioner; SP: supportive partner; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; CRC: colorectal carcinoma; SMART: Stress Management and Resiliency Training.