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Tailoring Healthcare Interventions for Insomnia in Cancer Patients: Insights from iCANSleep Study

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Created On: 18/08/2023

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Key take away

Mobile health interventions, specifically tailored for insomnia treatment, hold promise for effectively addressing the needs of cancer survivors experiencing insomnia.

Background

Patients battling cancer and experiencing insomnia require specialized healthcare interventions. iCANSleep is a smartphone app-based mobile health intervention designed to offer evidence-based insomnia treatment. In order to develop a user-centered approach, interviews were conducted with cancer survivors suffering from insomnia to understand their specific needs and preferences for insomnia treatment.

Method

A total of 22 cancer survivors from five Canadian provinces participated in an online survey and underwent a needs assessment interview. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the survey data, while the interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically.

Result

Out of the 22 cancer survivors, 81.8% (18/22) reported that their insomnia either began or worsened during their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Among those who discussed their insomnia with a medical professional, 64.3% (9/14) were prescribed hypnotic medications. Most participants showed familiarity with smartphone technology, had previous experience with health management apps, and expressed high acceptability towards an insomnia treatment app.

Participants highlighted various factors that facilitated app usage, including easy access, affordability, anonymity, evidence-based approach, and recommendations from local care teams. However, challenges such as smartphone ownership, complicated user interfaces, and limited internet access were identified. Participants also suggested additional functionalities, such as integration with wearable devices, modules addressing comorbid conditions like pain and anxiety, and an anonymous peer support forum.

Conclusion

Mobile apps show promise as effective platforms for delivering insomnia treatment, provided that the treatments are evidence-based and the apps are designed with user-friendliness in mind. The study's findings offer valuable insights into promoting the adoption and continued use of mobile health interventions among cancer survivors, informing the development of practical guidelines.