[Role of emotions and representations in the use of m-health among members of an online cancer-related community, the Seintinelles]. / Rôle des émotions et représentations dans le recours à la m-health chez les membres d'une communauté d'intérêt en ligne en lien avec le cancer, les Seintinelles.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual communities related to cancer, as with other chronic pathologies, seem to constitute a population likely to have a privileged relationship with e-health technologies. However, although many studies have sought to identify the characteristics of e-health users, none has focused specifically on members of health-related virtual communities. The objective is to identify the psychosocial determinants of the use of connected objects and health applications (COAs) among members of an online community of interest in cancer, the Seintinelles. METHODS: Data collection was performed using a self-questionnaire aiming to collect sociodemographic and psychosocial data. RESULTS: Only a minority of participants owned at least one COA. Positive emotions and the perception of COAs as a motivator to take care of one's health favored their adoption. Considering COASs as aimed toward ill people or perceiving them as complex are barriers to their use. DISCUSSION: Participants do not seem to have a privileged relationship with COAs. Reinforcing a sense of self-efficacy and ensuring that mobile devices and health apps elicit positive emotions in potential users is an essential step in facilitating the use of m-health from a health promotion perspective among individuals who are members of such virtual communities related to cancer.

Digital health interventions to help living with cancer: A systematic review of participants' engagement and psychosocial effects.

OBJECTIVE: Digital health interventions (DI) open the possibility for cancer patients and survivors to manage the disease and its side effects when they return home after treatment. This study aims to highlight the components of DI, investigate patient engagement with DI, and explore the effects of DI on psychosocial variables. METHODS: In September 2017, we performed a systematic review of studies focusing on DI which target cancer patients or survivors. RESULTS: A total of 29 articles (24 studies) were reviewed. There was considerable heterogeneity in study methods, in outcome definitions, in measures for engagement with DI and in psychosocial variables assessed. Results from the studies showed a high level of engagement. Self-efficacy, psychological symptoms, and quality of life were the most commonly assessed psychosocial variables. However, results for the effect of DI on psychosocial variables were inconsistent. Regarding pain management, results were in line with what one would expect. CONCLUSIONS: The present review showed that despite the heterogeneity in the studies assessed and inconsistent results, DI may constitute an excellent means to help cancer patients and survivors cope better with the disease and with treatment side effects, as they can improve self-management and wellbeing. In order to acquire a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer patients'/survivors' psychological and behavioral changes in terms of adopting DI, direct comparison between studies is needed. However, this can only come about if methodological and conceptual standardization of DI is implemented.