Characteristics of included studies
| Authors-year of publication- geographical location | Purpose of study | Study design | Methods/measurement tools | Sample | Significant findings |
| Allsop et al 2019 UK25 | Detail the creation and assessment of an e-Health tool designed to manage pain in patients with advanced cancer. | A pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial. | An approach combining disciplined agile delivery in software development with research methods from health science/PainCheck. | Patients undergoing palliative anticancer treatment (n=161). | The use of health information technology systems to assist patients with advanced cancer is a crucial area for enhancing healthcare and is currently in its nascent phase. |
| Cornetta et al 2023 Kenya27 | Evaluate the feasibility of Telehospice for managing symptoms in patients following their stay at a tertiary care hospital in Western Kenya. | An interventional trial. | Participants were monitored for 8 weeks via a weekly programme aimed at evaluating physical symptoms and distress in both patients and caregivers /telehospice. | Patients with cancer (n=30). | Telehospice is feasible and can serve as a temporary solution for providing care to end-of-life patients who lack access to home-based PC services. |
| Hackett et al 2020 UK26 | To investigate the viewpoints of healthcare providers and patients regarding their interaction with an information and communication technology system designed for managing pain. | Qualitative study integrated into a randomised control study. | Semi-structured interviews were carried out with patients in their homes and with nursing assistants at their workplaces/ PainCheck. | Patients (n=12); specialised clinical nurses (n=12). | The involvement of healthcare professionals was crucial to patient engagement with the ICT system. Both patients and healthcare professionals expressed satisfaction with the use of the system alongside usual care. |
| Ho et al 2022 Tanzania23 | To evaluate clinicians’ attitudes, beliefs and perceptions about the usability and usefulness of the mPCL with their patients in an urban cancer hospital in Tanzania. | Mixed-methods. | Surveys, qualitative interviews and system usage data was employed among clinicians/mPCL. | Patients with hospitalised cancer (n=49); healthcare professionals (n=16). | The mPCL was viewed as a means of maintaining contact with patients and facilitating remote symptom management. |
| Hochstenbach et al 11 2016 Netherlands | To describe the feasibility of a multicomponent intervention (mobile and online) in daily outpatient cancer pain management practice. | A one-group post-test study. | A combination of questionnaires, observations and interviews was used among patients and nurses/a mobile application connected to a web application. | Outpatients with cancer pain (n=11); nurses specialised in pain and PC (n=3). | The study results show that the intervention is feasible for everyday use, as it allows patients with cancer to manage their pain independently and enables nurses to provide remote support. |
| Ingram et al 2020 USA24 | Investigate how technology-assisted care coordination can improve palliative hospice care. | A quality improvement initiative. | Improve PC at a rural hospice following the Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control Process/ PEACE. | Patients in PC (n=50). | PEACE has enhanced PC by providing symptom management and patient support via CMP and TACP. |
| Wilkie et al 2020 USA22 | To compare the impact of standard PC vs PAINRelieveIt on pain progression in patients and their informal caregivers. | A five-step randomised controlled trial. | Patients and lay carers participated in an experimental intervention (control group vs experimental group) that measured pain management before and after the intervention /PAINRelieveIt. | Patients with cancer in hospice (n=234); informal caregivers (n=231). | The study demonstrated non-significant effects on patients’ pain symptoms but revealed significant impacts on their informal caregivers’ misconceptions about pain. |
CMP, Condition Management Protocol; mPCL, Mobile Palliative Care Link; PC, palliative care; PEACE, Palliative/End-of-Life/Assessment/Care Coordination/Evidence-Based Program ; TACP, Technology-Assisted Care Pathway.