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TL;DR: A systematic review of 88 studies covering nearly 29,000 people with prostate cancer found broad willingness to use digital supportive care tools, valued for convenience and flexibility, though barriers around access, digital literacy, and emotional readiness remain significant. The evidence describes preferences and perceptions rather than measured clinical outcomes.
Researchers set out to map what people with prostate cancer want from patient-facing digital health technologies, and what helps or hinders them from using these tools. They searched four electronic databases, screened citations in duplicate, appraised methodological quality with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), and synthesised findings narratively using the Human, Organisation, and Technology-fit (HOT-fit) framework. The final set included 88 studies representing 29,256 participants.
Preferences clustered into four interconnected domains: mode of delivery, type of content desired, factors enabling engagement, and barriers limiting use. Across these studies, people expressed willingness to engage with digital models, primarily because of their convenience, flexibility, and immediacy of access. Tailored content, clinician support, and interactive features were also repeatedly valued.
The content people wanted spanned several areas. Decision aids, symptom management tools, and informational resources supported self-management. Evidence-based tools addressing psychosocial functioning, emotional wellbeing, physical activity, and sexual health were also described as useful. The authors note, however, that digital sexual wellbeing support has received comparatively little research attention, which is a notable gap given how commonly sexual health is affected by prostate cancer treatment.
Barriers were consistent across the literature. The most frequently identified were technology access, device compatibility, digital literacy, and emotional readiness. The authors emphasise that the value of digital tools depended less on technological sophistication than on the fit between the technology, its users, and the care setting. Several populations remain under-studied, including people with low digital literacy, non-English speakers, and lower-income groups. The long-term sustainability of these models is also unclear.
For general lifestyle context during cancer care, you may also find resources on Daily steps target and Social connection useful, though this review did not evaluate those habits directly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Study type | Systematic review |
| Population | People affected by prostate cancer |
| Sample size | 29,256 participants across 88 included studies |
| Databases searched | Four electronic databases |
| Quality appraisal | Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) |
| Synthesis method | Narrative synthesis using the HOT-fit framework |
| Journal | Supportive Care in Cancer |
| PubMed ID | 42891837 |
1. Digital supportive care in prostate cancer: a systematic review. *Supportive Care in Cancer*. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42891837/
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