Developing Self Care Digital Trainings for Cancer Patients: An Implementation Research Project with Broad Stakeholder Engagement

Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue and sleep problems are common and burdensome symptoms affecting many cancer patients. Mind Body Medicine techniques, such as acupressure and mindfulness-based techniques, have been shown to be effective in alleviating these symptoms. However, opportunities for patients to learn and apply these self care techniques are limited. This study aimed to develop two digital training programs to enable cancer patients to self-administer either acupressure or mindfulness-based techniques for managing cancer-related fatigue and sleep problems. A user-centered development process, guided by an implementation science framework, was applied to ensure the trainings’ relevance, feasibility, and integration into routine oncology care. The digital trainings were iteratively developed and tested with stakeholders, including cancer patients, healthcare professionals, and Mind Body Medicine experts. The final trainings were evaluated for usability, content relevance, and applicability. Evaluation results demonstrated high satisfaction with the training content and clarity, as well as confidence in self-administering the self-care techniques. This study highlights the potential of digital interventions in supporting symptom self-management for cancer patients and demonstrates how a training program developed step by step in collaboration with stakeholders could be integrated into routine clinical care.

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