New model for remote symptom management and self-care of cancer patients based on digital health platforms: a narrative review.

Abstract

<h4>Background and objective</h4>With the increasing global cancer burden and prolonged survival of patients, effective post-treatment symptom management and self-care have become essential components of chronic cancer care. Traditional follow-up-based medical models often fail to capture dynamic symptom fluctuations, leading to suboptimal adherence and increased healthcare utilization. The emergence of digital health platforms provides new opportunities for remote symptom monitoring (RSM) and patient-centered care. This narrative review aimed to synthesize recent global evidence on the use of digital health platforms for remote symptom management and self-care among cancer patients, focusing on their technological frameworks, clinical benefits, and implementation challenges.<h4>Methods</h4>A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore for studies published in English between January 2018 and December 2024. The search combined controlled vocabulary and free-text terms related to digital health platforms, cancer, symptom management, and self-care. Reference lists of included studies were also manually screened. Eligible studies included those involving cancer patients and evaluating digital health interventions for RSM or self-management.<h4>Key content and findings</h4>The reviewed studies covered diverse digital health platforms integrating wearable sensors, mobile applications, and cloud-based analytics for real-time symptom tracking and personalized interventions. Core functional modules commonly identified included symptom monitoring, patient education, and psychosocial support. Evidence suggested that these platforms enhance patient empowerment, improve communication between patients and clinicians, and support proactive care through early detection of symptom exacerbations. However, significant barriers remain, including issues of data privacy and security, regulatory heterogeneity, and the digital devices that may limit equitable access.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Digital health platforms are transforming oncology care from a physician-centered model to a collaborative, technology-enabled framework that supports continuous, patient-driven symptom management. While existing evidence demonstrates their feasibility and clinical benefits, future research should emphasize standardization, long-term clinical validation, and culturally adaptable implementation models. Addressing these priorities may enhance both patient quality of life and the efficiency of healthcare resource utilization in cancer survivorship care.