Objective: To develop and evaluate the effects of an interactive coaching intervention, using a self-management mobile application, on quality of life and physical and psychological factors for colorectal cancer survivors.
Methods: We developed a self-management mobile application providing social support services for post-treatment CRC survivors and evaluated its effects through baseline and post-intervention surveys. Using the biopsychosocial holistic model as the theoretical framework, automated interactive coaching technology was applied for six weeks to provide supportive services tailored for each user. To evaluate the effects of the application, self-efficacy, health practice index, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, and quality of life measures were administered to participants. A total of 34 men and 5 women were included in the analysis.
Results: Participants' mean age were 54.10 years and 78% of them had been diagnosed within the last five years. There were significant increases in self-efficacy (z = 2.09, p = .04), health practice index (t = 2.35, p = .02), and quality of life (t = 2.03, p = .05). More specifically, the emotional functional score increased (z = 2.23, p = .03) while both of the total symptom score (t = 2.10, p = .04) and the fatigue symptom score (z = 2.54, p = .01) decreased after six weeks of using the mobile application.
Conclusions: Interventions supporting colorectal cancer survivors' self-management are critical for addressing the challenges they face after treatment and improving their quality of life. Providing social support through mobile applications could be a good strategy in terms of usability and effectiveness.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer survivors; Interactive coaching; Intervention; Mobile application; Quality of life; Self-management.
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