Table 1.
Summary of the characteristics of the included studies.
| Study | Study design |
Number of participants |
Follow-up (weeks) |
Age (years), mean (SD) |
Description of modules within the app | Instant messaging module |
| Yun, 2012 [17] | RCTa | 273 | 12 | Unknown | Five modules: self-assessment and graphic reports, health advice and online education, enhanced and short message services, caregiver monitoring and support, monitoring by a health professional | Yes |
| Somers, 2016 [23] | RCT | 23 | 1 | 60.00 (11) | Skype | No |
| Sun, 2017 [21] | RCT | 46 | 2 | 67.50 (Unknown) | Four modules: life quality self-evaluation, cancer pain self-evaluation, real-time messaging, standard medication | Yes |
| Smith, 2018 [28] | RCT | 87 | 18 | 56.70 (8.7) | Four modules: Web-based content, required activities including attending one online introductory group meeting, viewing videos to complete cognitive reframing, mind-body exercises | No |
| Yang, 2019 [16] | RCT | 58 | 4 | 52.53 (8.78) | Four modules: pain education, consultation, cancer pain self-evaluation, soothing music | Yes |
| Somers, 2015 [18] | BASb | 25 | 1 | 53.88 (12.59) | Videoconferencing on a tablet computer, eg, Skype | No |
| Jibb, 2017 [24] | BAS | 40 | 4 | 14.20 (1.7) | Questionnaires, real-time self-management recommendations, email alerts | Yes |
| Bae, 2017 [26] | BAS | 100 | 4 | 57.00 (Unknown) | PHRc data gathering, PHR gateway, Web service | No |
| Lengacher, 2017 [25] | BAS | 13 | 6 | 57.00 (9) | iBooks on an iPad | No |
| Stinson, 2015 [22] | Prospective, descriptive study | 92 | 2 | 13.10 (2.9) | Assessment items | No |
| Oldenmenger, 2017 [27] | Prospective, cohort study | 48 | 6 | 59.00 (11) | Three modules: a pain diary, eConsult, patient education | Yes |
| Dorfman, 2018 [19] | Single-arm pilot study | 20 | Unknown | 57.85 (11.72) | Daily access to session content, video clips modeling coping skills, stories about pain experiences from example participants, other materials (eg, relaxation audio) | Yes |
| Parks, 2019 [20] | Prospective, single-arm study | 90 | 12 | 55.10 (8.7) | Three modules: to-do list, individual health information, in-app chat service | Yes |
aRCT: randomized controlled trial.
bBAS: before-after study.
cPHR: personal health record.