Digital Health in Pediatric Oncology and Hematooncology: A Quasi-Systematic Review of Telehealth, mHealth and Precision Medicine.

Abstract

Pediatric oncological and hematological diseases remain a significant challenge due to their complexity, the need for personalized treatment, and long-term follow-up. Recent advances in medical technologies, particularly in information technology (IT), telemedicine, mobile health (mHealth), and precision medicine, have opened new possibilities for improving care and supporting clinical decision-making in pediatric patients. This quasi-systematic review examines the current landscape of emerging technologies applied in pediatric oncology and hematology. A structured literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar between March and April 2024, covering studies published from January 2018 to February 2024. A total of 157 met the predefined inclusion criteria. A critical analysis was performed regarding the clinical utility, implementation readiness, and limitations of these technologies, with particular attention to developmental variability and pediatric-specific safety requirements. Telehealth and mHealth tools were identified as effective solutions to improve accessibility and continuity of care by enabling remote consultations, real-time monitoring, and enhanced patient and family engagement. Precision medicine approaches demonstrated improved progression-free survival in selected high-risk pediatric populations, while AI-based tools supported diagnostic and prognostic decision-making. Despite these advances, the overall evidence remains heterogeneous, with limited high-quality randomized trials and scarce long-term cost-effectiveness evaluations. Ethical, infrastructural, and economic barriers continue to affect widespread implementation. A multidimensional and system-oriented approach is required to effectively integrate innovative technologies into real-world pediatric oncology and hematooncology settings.