JMIR Cancer最新文献

{"title":"Toward an Understanding of the Lack of Transmission of Facts About Human Papillomavirus: Qualitative Case Study.","authors":"Hind Bitar, Sarah Alismail","doi":"10.2196/64183","DOIUrl":"10.2196/64183","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease. Although extensive information about HPV is available and could help women prevent infection, a widespread lack of knowledge transmission hinders many women in Saudi Arabia from taking necessary preventive steps. Previous studies have reported low levels of HPV awareness among women in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of understanding the barriers to effective information dissemination. Identifying the factors that influence the transmission of HPV-related knowledge is essential for designing targeted and impactful public health interventions.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to explore the factors that either block or facilitate the transmission of HPV-related facts among women in Saudi Arabia, using the HPV facts transmission model as a theoretical framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative case study design was used, involving semistructured interviews with 20 women in Saudi Arabia aged 23 to 42 years. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. The data were analyzed using pattern matching to assess how participant responses aligned with 11 predefined propositions from the HPV facts transmission model, which integrates individual and social influences on health information-seeking behavior.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 11 propositions, 8 (73%) were supported by the data. Five were individual-level factors (personal need to learn, stigma, language barriers, technology use, and individual qualities), while 3 were social-level factors (social promotion, social support, and cultural norms). These factors were classified as barriers, resources, or both, depending on their influence on women's intention to seek HPV-related knowledge. For instance, personal motivation, curiosity, and digital access facilitated knowledge acquisition, while stigma, limited Arabic-language resources, and conservative social norms served as major deterrents. Three propositions (social structure, suppression structure, and interaction or collaboration) did not align with participant experiences and were excluded from the final model.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Understanding these barriers and resources is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve HPV knowledge dissemination. Strategies should include culturally appropriate awareness campaigns, accessible Arabic-language educational materials, and the integration of digital tools to encourage confidential learning. Addressing stigma through community engagement and structured education programs can further enhance HPV fact transmission, ultimately supporting informed decision-making and preventive health behaviors among women in Saudi Arabia.</p>","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e64183"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12397709/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital Interventions and Mental Health Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Zixuan Wu, Feifei Luo, Siyuan Wang, Xinyu Hu, Meifang Chen","doi":"10.2196/64754","DOIUrl":"10.2196/64754","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Rising cancer rates have amplified psychiatric and psychosocial burdens, with 35%-40% of patients exhibiting diagnosable psychiatric disorders. While digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) present potential solutions for improving emotional well-being in this population, evidence remains fragmented and lacks clarity regarding optimal implementation strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of digital interventions on mental health outcomes in patients with cancer, with particular focus on intervention duration and stakeholder involvement as moderating factors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aims to (1) characterize digital interventions targeting mental health outcomes in patients with cancer; (2) quantify their effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depression; and (3) examine whether intervention duration and stakeholder involvement moderate treatment outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement guidelines and was retrospectively registered in PROSPERO on May 25, 2025 (CRD420251058005). A total of 8 databases (Cochrane Central Trials Registry, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Global Health, Embase, and Medline) were searched from inception to 2024. Eligible randomized controlled trials evaluated digital interventions for mental health in patients with cancer. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. Random-effects meta-analyses calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs). Pooled results were reported as the odds ratio and 95% CI. The heterogeneity was assessed with the I² test (%). Subgroup analyses explored the potential effects of intervention duration and stakeholder involvement. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were performed to ensure the robustness of findings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Twenty-two randomized controlled trials were included in the review. The geolocation involves 4 continents worldwide: Asia (n=9), Europe (n=5), North America (n=6), and Oceania (n=2). Interventions comprised meditation or mindfulness (n=3), education (n=8), self-management (n=11), physical exercise (n=4), and patient community communication (n=8). Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, digital interventions showed nonsignificant effects on depression (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -1.00 to 0.03; P=.07; 9 studies) or anxiety (SMD -0.61, 95% CI -1.29 to 0.06; P=.08; 8 studies) with substantial heterogeneity (I2&gt;90%). Subgroup analyses revealed interventions (&lt;1 month) significantly reduced anxiety (SMD -0.73, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.04; P=.04), while interventions (1-2 months) reduced depression (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.01; P=.04). Interventions showed no statistically significant differences when stratified by stakeholder involvement","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e64754"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12352589/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144856657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing ChatGPT's Educational Potential in Lung Cancer Radiotherapy From Clinician and Patient Perspectives: Content Quality and Readability Analysis.","authors":"Cedric Richlitzki, Sina Mansoorian, Lukas Käsmann, Mircea Gabriel Stoleriu, Julia Kovacs, Wulf Sienel, Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero, Thomas Duell, Nina Sophie Schmidt-Hegemann, Claus Belka, Stefanie Corradini, Chukwuka Eze","doi":"10.2196/69783","DOIUrl":"10.2196/69783","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT (OpenAI) are increasingly discussed as potential tools for patient education in health care. In radiation oncology, where patients are often confronted with complex medical terminology and complex treatment plans, LLMs may support patient understanding and promote more active participation in care. However, the readability, accuracy, completeness, and overall acceptance of LLM-generated medical content remain underexplored.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aims to evaluate the potential of ChatGPT-4 as a supplementary tool for patient education in the context of lung cancer radiotherapy by assessing the readability, content quality, and perceived usefulness of artificial intelligence-generated responses from both clinician and patient perspectives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 8 frequently asked questions about radiotherapy for lung cancer were developed based on clinical experience from a team of clinicians specialized in lung cancer treatment at a university hospital. The questions were submitted individually to ChatGPT-4o (version as of July 2024) using the prompt: \"I am a lung cancer patient looking for answers to the following questions.\" Responses were evaluated using three approaches: (1) a readability analysis applying the Modified Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formula for German and the 4th Vienna Formula (WSTF); (2) a multicenter expert evaluation by 6 multidisciplinary clinicians (radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and thoracic surgeons) specialized in lung cancer treatment using a 5-point Likert scale to assess relevance, correctness, and completeness; and (3) a patient evaluation during the first follow-up appointment after radiotherapy, assessing comprehensibility, accuracy, relevance, trustworthiness, and willingness to use ChatGPT for future medical questions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Readability analysis classified most responses as \"very difficult to read\" (university level) or \"difficult to read\" (upper secondary school), likely due to the use of medical language and long sentence structures. Clinician assessments yielded high scores for relevance (mean 4.5, SD 0.52) and correctness (mean 4.3, SD 0.65), but completeness received slightly lower ratings (mean 3.9, SD 0.59). A total of 30 patients rated the responses positively for clarity (mean 4.4, SD 0.61) and relevance (mean 4.3, SD 0.64), but lower for trustworthiness (mean 3.8, SD 0.68) and usability (mean 3.7, SD 0.73). No harmful misinformation was identified in the responses.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;ChatGPT-4 shows promise as a supplementary tool for patient education in radiation oncology. While patients and clinicians appreciated the clarity and relevance of the information, limitations in completeness, trust, and readability highlight the need for clinician oversight and further optimization of LLM-generated content. Future developments should ","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e69783"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12349734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions and Needs of Stakeholders Regarding MyPal Project's Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome App: Cross-Sectional Qualitative Focus Group Study.","authors":"Dimitrios Kyrou, Panos Bonotis, Christine Kakalou, Maria Vasilopoulou, Lydia Scarfò, Marcel Meyerheim, Annette Sander, Tomáš Arpáš, Eleni Kazantzaki, Christos Maramis, Christina Karamanidou","doi":"10.2196/57388","DOIUrl":"10.2196/57388","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Palliative care is crucial for patients with life-threatening and serious diseases such as cancer, as it addresses their physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. Hematological malignancies significantly contribute to global cancer cases, impacting both older adults and children. To meet the increasing demand for palliative care, electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) interventions offer valuable insights into patient monitoring and treatment decision-making. The MyPal project developed a digital ePRO solution to improve palliative care by enabling structured symptom reporting and promoting physician-patient communication.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aims to explore the perceptions, opinions, and needs of adult and pediatric patients with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs) regarding low-fidelity versions of the MyPal project's digital solution, which is designed to improve palliative cancer care.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A qualitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using 12 prepilot focus groups (FGs) across 4 European countries (Greece, Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic) at participating hospitals and research centers. The FGs, held in person, included 61 participants, including 27 (44%) adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes, 19 (31%) children with hematological malignancies or solid tumors and their parents, and 15 (25%) HCPs specializing in oncology and palliative care. A semistructured discussion guide, informed by vignettes and user personas, was used to facilitate discussions. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify and extract themes and subthemes from the FG discussions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Three main themes emerged from the FG discussions. The first theme, improved care, showcased the project's potential to enhance health care through patient-reported measures by improving symptom monitoring, streamlining decision-making, and strengthening physician-patient communication. Patients and caregivers valued the ability to report symptoms remotely, reducing unnecessary hospital visits, while HCPs appreciated having structured patient data to guide treatment. The second theme, digital communication framework, revealed that while participants recognized the benefits of digital tools, they had concerns about data security, privacy, and clarity regarding communication protocols. Questions emerged about how and when HCPs would review and respond to patient-reported data. In the third theme, applicability for use in health care, participants emphasized the importance of the system's ease of use, particularly for older patients and young children. Concerns were raised about the potential intrusiveness of the system, particularly regarding notification frequency and the impact on daily life. HCPs highlighted workload challenges, suggesting the need for a ","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e57388"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12391845/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating a Chatbot as a Companion for Patients With Breast Cancer: Collaborative Pilot Study.","authors":"Sebastian Daniel Boie, Esther Glastetter, Michael Patrick Lux, Felix Balzer, Christof von Kalle, Christian Lenz, Ulrike Müller","doi":"10.2196/68426","DOIUrl":"10.2196/68426","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Patients with breast cancer frequently experience significant uncertainty, prompting them to seek detailed, personalized, and reliable medical information to enhance adherence to prescribed treatments, medications, and recommended lifestyle adjustments. Although high-quality information exists within oncology guidelines and patient-oriented resources, the provision of tailored responses to individual patient queries remains challenging, especially for non-English-speaking populations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aims to evaluate the potential of an artificial intelligence-driven chatbot, specifically leveraging ChatGPT (GPT-4; OpenAI) combined with retrieval-augmented generation, to deliver personalized answers to complex breast cancer-related patient questions in German.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We collaborated with one of Germany's largest breast cancer Patient Representation Groups to collect authentic patient inquiries, receiving a total of 118 questions. After initial screening, we selected 104 medical questions, organized into 7 distinct categories: aftercare, bone health, ductal carcinoma in situ, diagnostics, nutrition and supplements, complementary medicine, and therapy. A customized version of GPT-4 was configured with specific system prompts emphasizing empathetic, evidence-based responses and integrated with a comprehensive database comprising guidelines, recommendations, and patient information materials published by recognized German medical societies. To assess chatbot responses, we used 4 evaluation criteria: comprehensibility (clarity from a patient perspective), correctness (accuracy per current medical guidelines), completeness (inclusion of all relevant aspects), and potential harm (risk of undue patient harm or misinformation). Ratings were conducted using a 5-point Likert scale by a breast cancer expert (correctness, completeness, and potential harm) and patient representatives (comprehensibility).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The chatbot provided high-quality responses across multiple dimensions. Of the 499 responses evaluated for comprehensibility, 427 (85.6%) were rated as comprehensible. Among the 104 responses assessed for the remaining dimensions, 91 (87.5%) were rated as correct, 72 (69.2%) as complete, and 93 (89.4%) as nonharmful. Reasons for incomplete answers included omission of reimbursement details, updates from recent therapeutic guidelines, or nuanced recommendations regarding endocrine therapy and aftercare schedules. In addition, 6 (5.8%) of the answers were rated as potentially harmful due to outdated or contextually inappropriate recommendations. The chatbot also performed well in the nutrition and bone health categories despite occasionally incomplete document retrieval.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Our findings demonstrate that an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot with GPT-4 and retrieval augmentation can effectively provide persona","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e68426"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12373300/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Burden and Risk Factors of Gastric Cancer in Eastern Asia From 1990 to 2021: Longitudinal Observational Study of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.","authors":"Weijia Kong, Yuting Sun, Xiaoyan Qin, Guanghui Zhu, Xiaoyu Zhu, Ziyu Kuang, Zhigang Xiao, Jie Li","doi":"10.2196/75728","DOIUrl":"10.2196/75728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Eastern Asia has historically had the highest global incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer (GC) while substantial disparities exist between countries. The overall burden of GC remains insufficiently explored.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, this research aims to estimate the burden and risk factors of GC in Eastern Asia from 1990 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Incidence, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), deaths, age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), disability-adjusted life years, age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR), and risk factor burdens for GC were analyzed in Eastern Asia from 1990 to 2021. Joinpoint analysis determined average annual percent change (AAPC) and annual percent change, while age-period-cohort analysis assessed temporal trends. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model projected GC burden from 2021 to 2035. All analyses used R software (version 4.4.1; R Foundation for Statistical Computing).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, Eastern Asia reported 748,235 new GC cases and 527,054 deaths, accounting for 60.8% (748,235/1,230,232) of new cases and 55.2% (527,054/954,373) of deaths reported globally. From 1990 to 2021, South Korea showed the largest declines in ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR, with ASMR decreasing from 55.4 per 100,000 to 13.3 per 100,000 (AAPC -4.5, 95% CI -4.8 to -4.3). ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR also showed a downward trend in Japan and China, with an AAPC of -3.0 (95% CI -3.2 to -2.8) for ASMR in Japan and -2.4 (95% CI -2.6 to -2.3) in China. The GC burden of North Korea was basically stable, with an AAPC of ASMR of -0.8 (95% CI -0.8 to -0.8). Mongolia showed a slight decline, with an AAPC of ASMR of -1.4 (95% CI -1.7 to -1.0), and the burden of GC was the highest. High-sodium diets and smoking were the main risk factors for disability-adjusted life years of GC in 2021. Smoking contributed to a decline in ASDR as the sociodemographic index increased. Projections suggest continued ASDR reductions across Eastern Asia from 2022 to 2035, though Mongolia will maintain the highest burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite a decrease from 1990 to 2021, GC remains a significant public health issue in Eastern Asia. Addressing it necessitates prioritizing primary and secondary prevention, including reducing risk factors and enhancing early screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e75728"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12334143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying Adaptations to an mHealth Alcohol Reduction Intervention for Reducing Alcohol Use in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Qualitative Study.","authors":"Kimberly Haney, Tia Borger, Vilma Bursac, Caryn Sorge, Brent Shelton, John Salsman, Laurie McLouth, Carolyn Lauckner","doi":"10.2196/59949","DOIUrl":"10.2196/59949","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer (aged 15-39 years) frequently engage in hazardous alcohol use, which can have multiple mental and physical health effects.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was 2-fold, to identify the necessary adaptations to an existing motivational interviewing-based mHealth (mobile health) alcohol reduction intervention, called Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC), for posttreatment adolescents and young adults, and to develop a tailored intervention for this vulnerable and underserved population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a qualitative study consisting of key informant interviews with posttreatment adolescents and young adults aged 18-39 years, oncology and psych-oncology providers, and community advocates (n=15) to inform the adaptation of TRAC. Thematic qualitative analysis of interview findings was conducted to determine necessary changes to the intervention protocol and content, which would ultimately lead to the development of the new TRAC adolescent and young adult intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Key informant interviews revealed a need for the intervention to address cancer-specific alcohol use triggers such as scan-related anxiety, financial toxicity, and reproductive health concerns. They also indicated the need to provide education on the link between alcohol and cancer and to reduce the time burden of the intervention, given the many competing life demands of adolescents and young adults. Significant changes were made to the TRAC intervention to create the TRAC adolescent and young adult. We reduced the number of required sessions from 8 to 4, introduced a session devoted to managing cancer-specific triggers, and provided survivors with more information about alcohol and its relationship to cancer.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is potential to increase alcohol intervention relevance and fit for adolescents and young adults by including tailored content relevant to their life experiences while also maintaining core components of such interventions, such as self-monitoring and goal-setting. Remote, brief interventions are important for ensuring acceptability. The new TRAC adolescent and young adult intervention represents a potentially valuable tool in addressing high rates of hazardous alcohol use among this population and warrants further evaluation in randomized trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e59949"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12492314/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145214021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Companionship and Sharing Create Social Connections of an Online Community-Based Intervention for Patients with Cancer Receiving Outpatient Care: Pilot Study.","authors":"Yi He, Ying Pang, Ying Liu, Zimeng Li, Yan Wang, Yening Zhang, Zhongge Su, Lili Song, Shuangzhi He, Bingmei Wang, Lili Tang","doi":"10.2196/64977","DOIUrl":"10.2196/64977","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Online communities, platforms that facilitate social connections, have gained attention in the medical field, particularly for their potential to support patients. However, there is currently no online community specifically designed for patients with cancer receiving outpatient care. This study introduces a customized online community aimed at providing companionship and sharing to enhance the quality of life (QOL) among these patients.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and initial effectiveness of a newly developed online community app in improving the QOL of patients with cancer receiving outpatient care.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This pilot intervention-only study involved patients with cancer participating in a 4-week online community intervention through a mobile app. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with cancer, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of ≤2. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated by community task participation rate, community task completion rate, and community daily login rate. Patients completed a QOL questionnaire (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30, QLQ-C30) at baseline (T0), week 2 (T1), and week 4 (T2). After the intervention, participants were free to answer 3 questions about their user experience.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Baseline assessments were conducted on 30 patients, with 25 patients assessed at T1 (83.3%) and 22 at T2 (73.3%). The 4-week average community daily login rate was 60.37% (18.11/30 on average), with community task participation and community task completion rates reaching 42.25% (12.68/30 on average) and 22.38% (6.7/30 on average), respectively. Notably, after the study ended, participants continued logging into the app and completing tasks. Patients who actively engaged in community activities demonstrated significant improvements in global health status (mean 11.04, SD 10.3 vs mean -6.56, SD 11.58; P=.004), emotional function (mean 17.7, SD 22.93 vs mean -2.89, SD 13.9; P=.04), and constipation (mean 11, SD 16.5 vs mean 14.67, SD 17.39; P=.005) at T2, compared to those less active. The intervention enhanced emotional functioning and overall health and alleviated insomnia symptoms among active participants.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The online community intervention, emphasizing companionship and sharing, was well accepted by patients with cancer and demonstrated initial effectiveness in enhancing the QOL. The study findings suggest that such interventions can provide a supportive environment for patients to cope with psychological, social, and physical challenges. Future validation of its effectiveness will require well-designed randomized controlled trials, and continued optimization tailored to specific user groups will be crucial to meet the evolving needs of ","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e64977"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12331361/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144800502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capturing Community Perspectives in a Statewide Cancer Needs Assessment: Online Focus Group Study.","authors":"Jessica R Thompson, Keeghan Francis, Caree R McAfee, Madeline Brown, Todd Burus, Melinda Rogers, Connie L Sorrell, Elizabeth Westbrook, Lovoria B Williams, Jennifer Redmond Knight, Elaine Russell, Natalie P Wilhite, Pamela C Hull","doi":"10.2196/63717","DOIUrl":"10.2196/63717","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Kentucky has the highest all-site cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States. Conducting needs assessments in a large geographic area, such as an entire state, poses challenges in collecting qualitative data from diverse rural and urban contexts. In 2021, a steering committee was formed to drive a multimethod, statewide cancer needs assessment (CNA) to identify the future priorities for all cancer-related care in Kentucky.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;We aimed to report on the online focus group component of the CNA by documenting existing community resources and perceived needs across the cancer care continuum. In addition, we aimed to explore the impacts of social determinants of health among populations experiencing health disparities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Through existing partnerships and a national research registry, we recruited adult Kentucky residents who were not employed in health occupations to participate in 11 online 60-minute focus groups, stratified to include multiple target populations and geographic areas. We based our semistructured discussion guide on the cancer care continuum and focused on social determinants of health, health equity, and factors affecting cancer diagnoses and outcomes. We conducted a qualitative line-by-line analysis of the recorded transcripts to identify themes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The participants (N=51; mean 4.63, SD 2.26 per group) lived in 25 different counties, including 35% (18/51) from rural communities, 14% (7/51) from the Appalachian area of Kentucky, and 31% (16/51) who self-identified with a racial or ethnic minority group. We identified 17 primary themes representing community-perceived needs and potential solutions across the cancer care continuum, including novel approaches to make information accessible; messaging not interpreted as blaming or shaming; messaging from individuals who engender trust; screening efforts to reach individuals where they are; ways to address practical barriers to screening and treatment, such as cost and transportation; and ways to increase knowledge about insurance coverage. In addition, we found 83 emergent subthemes specific to race, ethnicity, rural and urban residence, sexual orientation and gender identity, and age. The participants described the need to promote positive, culturally sensitive patient-health care provider communication and to create safe care spaces that consider the ways in which social norms affect cancer care, fight stigma, and improve health equity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;By conducting statewide qualitative data collection online, we provided valuable depth of understanding for future programs and research to address cancer incidence and mortality in Kentucky. The findings pointed to several potential actions to address community-perceived needs across the cancer care continuum, including increasing accessible risk reduction information, expanding ways","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e63717"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12355136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144761747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Practical Approaches to Patient-Centered Care in Europe: Mixed Methods Study Developing a Conceptual Framework for Comprehensive Cancer Care Networks.","authors":"Emily Hickmann, Peggy Richter, Hannes Schlieter, Maja Cemazar, Dorota Dudek-Godeau, Nele Grapentin, Ellen Griesshammer, Marjetka Jelenc, Sigita Liutkauskiene, Alain Ravaud, Xavier Troussard, Simone Wesselmann","doi":"10.2196/59683","DOIUrl":"10.2196/59683","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;In contemporary health care, patient-centered care has emerged as a pivotal paradigm shift that redefines the traditional physician-centric model. Particularly in the context of cancer care, marked by its intricate nature and emotional impact, there is a pressing requirement to rethink how health care is delivered. In this context, comprehensive cancer care networks (CCCNs) provide a new means of structuring and delivering quality cancer care, recognizing each patient's unique preferences and needs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to establish a consistent definition and framework for patient centeredness in CCCNs, facilitating the integration of a patient-centered approach to enhance care quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We conducted an umbrella review focusing on generic and oncology-specific dimensions of patient centeredness to establish the definition and framework. The data were analyzed and synthesized using an inductive category development approach, which guided the derivation of dimensions for the framework. The review was complemented by a survey of 23 key stakeholders within CCCNs and a focus group with patient representatives. This process involved iterative group discussions to achieve consensus on the framework and definition.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The study presents a robust definition and framework of patient centeredness tailored to CCCNs, validated by an initial agreement rate of 96% among survey respondents. Patient centeredness in a CCCN is defined as a philosophy of care prioritizing the physical, emotional, and social needs and personal values of patients with cancer at every step of the patient pathway. In patient-centered CCCNs, patients are empowered and engaged in becoming active partners in health care in relation to their individual preferences and capabilities, with the goal of providing personalized, high-quality, holistic care with the best possible outcomes. The framework comprises 8 primary dimensions: empowering patients, engaging and involving patients, treating the patient as a unique person, enhancing the therapeutic relationship, enhancing a patient-centered culture, providing holistic care, recognizing and supporting the health care professional as a person, and coordinating care. Each dimension is supported by specific subdimensions and actionable patient-centered activities that facilitate practical implementation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The results provide a comprehensive perspective on the complex elements that compose patient-centered care within CCCNs in Europe. This contributes to a better understanding and application of patient centeredness in cancer care and possibly other contexts. The results presented in this paper promise to support cancer care networks and other health care contexts in creating a patient-centered environment where patients feel genuinely heard, valued, and actively engaged in their care decision","PeriodicalId":45538,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Cancer","volume":"11 ","pages":"e59683"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12355145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144761748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}