J Gastric Cancer.
2024 Oct;24(4):420-435. 10.5230/jgc.2024.24.e37.
Development and Feasibility Assessment of Mobile ApplicationBased Digital Therapeutics for Postoperative Supportive Care in Gastric Cancer Patients Following Gastrectomy
- Park JH
1,2 - Lee HJ1,3,4
- Kim J1
- Cho YS1
- Lee S1
- Park S1
- Choe H5
- Song E6
- Kim Y7
- Kong SH1,3,4
- Park DJ1,3,4
- Nam BH8
- Yang HK1,3,4
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 2Department of Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
- 3Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 4Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- 5Department of Nursing, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 6Department of Food Service and Nutrition Care, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 7Department of Food Service and Nutrition Care, Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) Seoul National University (SNU) Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- 8HERINGS, The Institute of Advanced Biomedical and Clinical Research, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2560588
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2024.24.e37
Abstract
- Purpose
This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility and effectiveness of digital therapeutics for supportive care after gastrectomy. Materials and Method: The study included 39 patients with gastric cancer who underwent minimally invasive gastrectomy and were able to use a mobile application (app) on their smartphones. The developed research app automatically calculates and provides daily targets for calorie and protein intake based on the patient’s body mass index (BMI). Patients recorded their daily diets, weights, and symptoms in the app and completed special questionnaires to assess the feasibility of the app in real-world clinical practice.
Results
At the 10-week follow-up, the mean questionnaire scores for ease of learning, usability, and effectiveness of the app (primary endpoint) were 2.32±0.41, 2.35±0.43, and 2.4±0.39 (range: 0–3), respectively. Patients were classified as underweight (<18.5, n=4), normal (18.5–24.9, n=24), or overweight (≥25.0, n=11) according to predischarge BMI. Underweight patients showed higher compliance with app usage and a higher rate of achieving the target calorie and protein intake than normal weight and overweight patients (98% vs. 77% vs. 81%, p=0.0313; 102% vs. 75% vs. 61%, P=0.0111; 106% vs. 79% vs. 64%, P=0.0429). Two patients transitioned from underweight to normal weight (50.0%), one patient (4.3%) transitioned from normal weight to underweight, and two patients (22.2%) transitioned from overweight to normal weight.
Conclusions
The mobile app is feasible and useful for postoperative supportive care in terms of ease of learning, usability, and effectiveness. Digital therapeutics may be an effective way to provide supportive care for postgastrectomy patients, particularly in terms of nutrition.
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