Use of telehealth and eHealth technologies in patient care by psycho‐oncology service providers in low–middle‐income countries during the COVID‐19

Abstract

Key points A high number of mental health cancer care providers from low–middle‐income countries (LMICs) reported that they are working during the COVID‐19 as both clinicians and researchers Less than 50% of providers surveyed were taking care of patients with comorbid cancer and COVID‐19. They also reported that this pandemic had drastically impacted the number of patients seen per week Due to COVID‐19, mental health cancer care providers from LMICs had to incorporate technology into their practice (with and without the support from an institution). Telephone, videoconferencing, text messages, and telehealth have been great resources by which to offer psychosocial support to their patients Notably, despite the fact that mental health cancer care providers from LMICs have been able to offer eHealth interventions during the pandemic, they are experiencing notable challenges in delivering this type of intervention, often due to limited technology resources in their countries The vast majority of mental health cancer providers from LMICs would like to be trained to offer eHealth interventions and to develop this type of supportive care resource in their countries

Psychosocial oncology in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Lessons from Ghana

“…With high rates of mobile phone penetration in SSA, 41 mobile‐health technology is already being used to deliver palliative care services and other non‐communicable disease management in the African region 42,43 . Hence, the integration of psychological self‐assessment tools with mobile health technology could be another viable way to facilitate the integration of validated psychosocial assessments in the care of the cancer population 44 …”

mHealth program for patients with advanced cancer receiving treatment in a public health hospital in Brazil

“…16,17 Despite this, eHealth/mHealth remained an infrequently utilized resource in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). 18 A previous survey study noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health care providers from LMICs started to use technology in their practice. 18 Telehealth and text messaging were the most common resources used during this time.…”

“…18 A previous survey study noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health care providers from LMICs started to use technology in their practice. 18 Telehealth and text messaging were the most common resources used during this time. Many challenges have been highlighted by these providers, including lack of knowledge in delivering this type of intervention.…”

“…Many challenges have been highlighted by these providers, including lack of knowledge in delivering this type of intervention. 18 Undoubtedly, eHealth/ mHealth could be an important resource for assessing and managing unmet needs and eliminating some of the barriers to accessing supportive care. Considering the challenges faced by patients receiving treatment in low resource settings, we have developed a virtual platform entitled Comfort.…”

Emotion Regulation Flexibility and Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Framework for Understanding Symptoms and Affect Dynamics in Pediatric Psycho-Oncology

“…Simultaneously, due to various reasons, such as a rise in internet and smartphone accessibility worldwide, but also due to global circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health solutions (DHS) have become a valuable and much-needed resource for improving the quality of research and treatment of a wide variety of behaviors and diseases, especially within oncology and psycho-oncology [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. They constitute a resource that inevitably must be reckoned with.…”