Training Cognitive Functions Using Mobile Apps in Breast Cancer Patients: Systematic Review

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Abstract

Background

Breast cancer is an invalidating disease and its treatment can bring serious side effects that have a physical and psychological impact. Specifically, cancer treatment generally has a strong impact on cognitive function. In recent years, new technologies and eHealth have had a growing influence on health care and innovative mobile apps can be useful tools to deliver cognitive exercise in the patient’s home.

Objective

This systematic review gives an overview of the state-of-the-art mobile apps aimed at training cognitive functions to better understand whether these apps could be useful tools to counteract cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients.

Methods

We searched in a systematic way all the full-text articles from the PubMed and Embase databases.

Results

We found eleven studies using mobile apps to deliver cognitive training. They included a total of 819 participants. App and study characteristics are presented and discussed, including cognitive domains trained (attention, problem solving, memory, cognitive control, executive function, visuospatial function, and language). None of the apps were specifically developed for breast cancer patients. They were generally developed for a specific clinical population. Only 2 apps deal with more than 1 cognitive domain, and only 3 studies focus on the efficacy of the app training intervention.

Conclusions

These results highlight the lack of empirical evidence on the efficacy of currently available apps to train cognitive function. Cognitive domains are not well defined across studies. It is noteworthy that no apps are specifically developed for cancer patients, and their applicability to breast cancer should not be taken for granted. Future studies should test the feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of available cognitive training apps in women with breast cancer. Due to the complexity and multidimensionality of cognitive difficulties in this cancer population, it may be useful to design, develop, and implement an ad hoc app targeting cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Laura Vergani:

Department of Oncology and Hemato-OncologyUniversity of MilanVia Festa del Perdono 7Milan, 20122Italy39 029 4372099laura.vergani@ieo.it

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4880-9656

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Journal ID (publisher-id): JMU

Title: JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Publisher: JMIR Publications (Toronto, Canada )

ISSN (Electronic): 2291-5222

Publication date Collection: March 2019

Publication date (Electronic): 19 March 2019

Volume: 7

Issue: 3

Electronic Location Identifier: e10855

Affiliations

[1 ] Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology University of Milan Milan Italy

[2 ] Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science European Institute of Oncology (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Milan Italy

Author notes

Corresponding Author: Laura Vergani laura.vergani@ 123456ieo.it

Author information

Laura Vergani http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4880-9656

Giulia Marton http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6360-7569

Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9378-8447

Dario Monzani http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9544-2933

Ketti Mazzocco http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1382-6779

Gabriella Pravettoni http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4843-4663

Article

Publisher ID: v7i3e10855

DOI: 10.2196/10855

PMC ID: 6444278

PubMed ID: 30888326

SO-VID: 3ca55b42-adec-4f7c-bc33-a85c61b41327

Copyright © ©Laura Vergani, Giulia Marton, Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli, Dario Monzani, Ketti Mazzocco, Gabriella Pravettoni. Originally published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 19.03.2019.

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR mhealth and uhealth, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://mhealth.jmir.org/.as well as this copyright and license information must be included.

History

Date received : 23 April 2018

Date revision requested : 6 June 2018

Date revision received : 2 July 2018

Date accepted : 16 July 2018

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