Smart messaging for cancer patients

Enhancing the wellbeing for patients in cancer care

The smart message support for cancer project is a tailored text messaging intervention for patients undergoing cancer care - providing a holistic way to support the physical and emotional symptoms associated with cancer.

The challenge

Cancer services in the UK are currently dealing with a backlog leading to long waiting times to access treatments (NHS England, 2023), these difficulties which may not be considered directly related to the cancer itself can be overlooked or missed.

Physical and mental health are intertwined, evidenced by studies showing that physical activity significantly contributes to lower psychological well-being.  In the context of cancer, the impact on mental health can be linked to those of anxiety and depression.

The solution

The smart messaging invention uses a platform called  Florence, which has the capability to provide regular messages that are designed to meet the unique needs of cancer patients, and offers a range of evidence based information, tools and resources to help them cope with the challenges that often come with a diagnosis. The goal was to assess the effectiveness and engagement of low-level psychological interventions in managing physical and emotional symptoms associated with cancer.

 HIEM funded an evaluation of the programme which saw patients recruited across the East Midlands.

Impact and outcomes

  • 27 patients enrolled on the programme.
  • Clinical scores showed a reduction in symptoms, reflecting positive outcomes.
  • Barriers to enrolment were identified mainly around improving promotional strategies essential for maximising the wider impact of the intervention on this population.
  • Project team confirmed the intervention will continue and they are exploring ways to implement the study's findings to boost enrolments.

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