Innovative Tools to Support Family Caregivers of Persons with Cancer: The Role of Information Technology.
George Demiris, Karla Washington, Connie M Ulrich and 2 others
PMID 31229338WHAT IT FOUND
Technology may help cancer caregivers with symptom reporting, education, medication support, telehealth, and peer groups, but evidence is early and mixed.
Do not assume it improves caregiver outcomes.
Key findings
01Evidence that technology helps cancer caregivers is early and limited, especially for cancer-specific effectiveness.
02Reported benefits were inconsistent, including reduced caregiver burden and improved mood in a CHESS platform and no benefit from video-delivered problem-solving therapy compared with attention control.
03Digital access gaps and poor integration with clinical records are practical barriers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
It is a narrative review without reported search methods or study selection, so the examples may not represent all available evidence. Most cited studies are feasibility or acceptance studies, not definitive effectiveness trials. Many interventions combine technology with education, therapy, clinician contact, or symptom monitoring, so the effect of technology alone cannot be separated. The review includes mixed results, including no benefit for video-delivered problem-solving therapy in a hospice trial. It does not report long-term caregiver or patient outcomes, cost, adoption, or safety. Digital access, training, privacy, and interoperability are discussed but not measured as outcomes.
Declared interests
The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural research support. The article text does not include an author disclosure or conflict-of-interest statement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that cancer caregiver apps, telehealth, or peer groups improve outcomes. The review reports limited, early evidence and mixed findings, including no benefit for video-delivered problem-solving therapy compared with attention control.