Patients' experience of using online interventions for the management of late effects following completion of cancer treatment-protocol for a qualitative systematic review.
8 affiliations
- 1Christie Patient Centred Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- 2The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- 3Department of Endocrinology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- 4School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
- 5Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Science, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- 6The Christie Library, School of Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- 7Christie Patient Centred Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. [email protected].
- 8Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Science, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Global cancer cases are predicted to rise to 35 million by 2050 and survival rates are also increasing, meaning the number of patients experiencing late effects from their cancer treatment is expected to rise. Post-treatment side effects can present physically, psychologically, and functionally. These complications can include peripheral neuropathies, fatigue, cognitive or sexual difficulties, and heightened anxiety or depression. A wide range of online interventions have been developed as treatment and support tools for cancer patients following treatment, including self-directed or therapy-assisted programs, symptom-reporting applications and education tools. Research to examine the effectiveness of online interventions for the management of late effects has shown these interventions to have a positive impact on outcomes such as managing fatigue, depression, and overall quality of life. The aim of this study is to systematically identify, review and synthesise the qualitative experiences of patients with cancer using online interventions for managing late effects post-cancer treatment in order to further inform the design and implementation.Methods
A comprehensive search strategy has been developed to identify studies across six different databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, PSYCHINFO, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library). Studies will be screened and selected by two independent reviewers. The inclusion criterion includes peer-reviewed qualitative or mixed-methods studies, published on any date, with patients over the age of 18, in any geographical location or setting, and written in English. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) diagram will be developed to show the screening and selection process. Once included studies have been identified, Thomas and Harden's (2008) three stages of thematic synthesis will be followed by two reviewers to generate analytical themes.Discussion
By reviewing patients' experience of using online interventions to help with late effects of cancer and its treatment, we hope to be able to provide some guidance for those developing and implementing these interventions into care, to maximise the benefit for patients.Systematic review registration
PROSPERO (Reference CRD42025619614).
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BibTeX
@article{ward2026patients,
title = {{Patients' experience of using online interventions for the management of late effects following completion of cancer treatment-protocol for a qualitative systematic review.}},
author = {Ashleigh Ward and Ramsay Lochhead Devaraj and Kate Law and Claire Higham and Janelle Yorke and Daniel Livesey and Sally Taylor},
journal = {Systematic reviews},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13643-026-03194-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902424},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Patients' experience of using online interventions for the management of late effects following completion of cancer treatment-protocol for a qualitative systematic review.
AU - Ashleigh Ward
AU - Ramsay Lochhead Devaraj
AU - Kate Law
AU - Claire Higham
AU - Janelle Yorke
AU - Daniel Livesey
AU - Sally Taylor
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Systematic reviews
DO - 10.1186/s13643-026-03194-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902424
AB - Background Global cancer cases are predicted to rise to 35 million by 2050 and survival rates are also increasing, meaning the number of patients experiencing late effects from their cancer treatment is expected to rise. Post-treatment side effects can present physically, psychologically, and functionally. These complications can include peripheral neuropathies, fatigue, cognitive or sexual difficulties, and heightened anxiety or depression. A wide range of online interventions have been developed as treatment and support tools for cancer patients following treatment, including self-directed or therapy-assisted programs, symptom-reporting applications and education tools. Research to examine the effectiveness of online interventions for the management of late effects has shown these interventions to have a positive impact on outcomes such as managing fatigue, depression, and overall quality of life. The aim of this study is to systematically identify, review and synthesise the qualitative experiences of patients with cancer using online interventions for managing late effects post-cancer treatment in order to further inform the design and implementation.Methods A comprehensive search strategy has been developed to identify studies across six different databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, PSYCHINFO, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library). Studies will be screened and selected by two independent reviewers. The inclusion criterion includes peer-reviewed qualitative or mixed-methods studies, published on any date, with patients over the age of 18, in any geographical location or setting, and written in English. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) diagram will be developed to show the screening and selection process. Once included studies have been identified, Thomas and Harden's (2008) three stages of thematic synthesis will be followed by two reviewers to generate analytical themes.Discussion By reviewing patients' experience of using online interventions to help with late effects of cancer and its treatment, we hope to be able to provide some guidance for those developing and implementing these interventions into care, to maximise the benefit for patients.Systematic review registration PROSPERO (Reference CRD42025619614).
SN - 2046-4053
ER -