Evidence based technology
For improved mental health outcomes in patient care
Digital opportunities in cancer survivorship
Transforming cancer-related pain management
Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with cancer. Unrelieved pain greatly affects patients’ activities, motivation, interactions with family and friends, and overall quality of life. Current cornerstones of cancer pain management are mainly pharmacologic analgesics such as nonopioids, opioids, and adjuvant analgesics (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, topical agents, and corticosteroids). These analgesic interventions are not always adequate and are associated with adverse effects and potential drug-dependency issues. Additionally, undertreatment of pain remains an issue in a significant subset of patients with cancer.
Concurrent nonpharmacologic interventions aimed at enhancing a sense of control over the pain will serve as valuable additions to pharmacologic therapies. Digital versions of these interventions will reach people with restricted access to health care. and provide complementary strategies to manage the debilitating impact of their pain.
Managing distress in palliative care
Psychological distress is considerable for people in palliative care, and this distress can develop into clinical anxiety or depression. Clinical guidelines recommend that psychological support should form a crucial element of the holistic palliative care approach. However, current psychological service provision in palliative care is inadequate due to limited funding and access to specialised healthcare professionals.
Digital technologies can facilitate access to personalised and high-quality psychological support to patients who are too unwell to attend in-person consultations.
Supporting mental health in cancer survivorship
For many patients, living after a cancer diagnosis means living with the long‐term effects of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment, including depression, anxiety, and fear of cancer recurrence. These mental health conditions are particularly heightened when treatment ends and contact with health care professionals diminishes. Patients often report feeling abandoned, vulnerable, and as if they have lost the “safety net” they were provided during treatment.
Self-management interventions aim to empower cancer survivors to achieve optimal health and well‐being. These interventions are designed to help the patient to learn and adopt a set of health behaviours to be used in everyday life. Digital technologies can improve the delivery of personalised self-management interventions to help cancer survivors cope better with their disease and treatment side-effects. The flexibility of digital technologies allows for the design of engaging multicomponent interventions tailored to the needs of individuals.
Leading clinical trials and research in digital mental health.
Founder Lahiru Russell discusses her work in digital mental health.
Digital Interventions.
Improved Patient Outcomes.
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