Recovery, reimagined. Mobile health coaching significantly improves quality of life for post-gastrectomy patients.

A randomized clinical trial explores the potential of digital therapeutics in recovering from major cancer surgery. The study focused on patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer, a procedure that often requires strict lifestyle adjustments. Researchers introduced a mobile app that provided interactive "human coaching" to guide patients through their recovery. While the app didn't drastically change eating habits in the critical first month, the long-term benefits were clear.

Active users of the app reported significantly better "global health status" and fewer issues with dyspnea (shortness of breath) at the 3-month and 6-month marks compared to those receiving standard care. Perhaps most importantly for oncology patients, the digital intervention helped reduce negative body image issues, suggesting that the psychological support provided by the app was just as valuable as the physical guidance. The findings support the integration of mobile coaching into standard post-operative protocols to support holistic survivorship.

Read the original article at: https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e75445


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