Integrating mHealth Innovations into Decentralized Oncology Trials.

Abstract

The integration of mobile health (mHealth) technologies into decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) may represent a paradigm shift in oncology research, offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges in clinical trial design and execution. mHealth tools, including wearable biosensors, telemedicine platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, have the potential to enable real-time patient monitoring, support participant engagement, and facilitate remote data collection. Also, these advancements have the potential to improve recruitment rates, optimize treatment adherence, and ensure more equitable access to clinical trials, particularly for patients in underserved regions. Moreover, precision oncology approaches leveraging mHealth data may contribute to personalized treatment strategies that improve patient outcomes. However, regulatory complexities, data privacy concerns, and technological disparities remain critical challenges that must be addressed to ensure the widespread adoption of mHealth-enabled DCTs. Future advancements in AI, blockchain technology, and remote diagnostic tools may further enhance the scalability, efficiency, and inclusivity of these trials. By embracing these innovations, oncology research can transition toward a more patient-centric, data-driven paradigm that has the potential to accelerates drug development and enhances clinical decision-making. This narrative review explores the potentially transformative role of mHealth technologies in DCTs within oncology.