Effectiveness of mobile-based care support applications in symptom management after breast cancer: A systematic review

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile-based care support applications used in symptom management in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Method: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. PubMed, Scopus, Medline, EBSCHOhost, Web of Science, Science Direct and Central databases were searched for the last 10 years between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2023 using the keywords "breast cancer", "symptom management" and "mobile health" and their combinations. Results: A total of 14 articles were included in the review. The total sample size of the studies was 920 for the intervention group and 875 for the control group. The studies used five different types of mobile care support applications and the length of time participants used the interventions ranged from three weeks to six months. The programmes implemented emphasised self-management and self-efficacy by using educational content, identifying, monitoring and reporting symptoms, and providing evidence-based self-care recommendations for self-management of these symptoms. The intervention managers involved in the trials were health professionals. The studies evaluated the effects of symptom management under the subheadings of physical and psychological symptoms, and the majority of mobile care support applications (8 studies) showed supportive and healing effects on both physical and psychological symptoms, with the greatest effect on quality of life. Conclusion: The results of this systematic review indicate that mobile health applications used for symptom management after breast cancer help patients manage their symptoms and provide benefits by reducing the severity of physical and psychological symptoms. Keywords: Breast cancer, mobile application, mobile health, symptom management, systematic review