New Technologies to Improve Pain, Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents with Cancer: A Systematic Review

María Mar Lopez-Rodriguez, Alejandro Fernández-Millan, María Dolores Ruiz-Fernández, Iria Dobarrio-Sanz and Isabel María Fernández-Medina
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María Mar Lopez-Rodriguez: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Alejandro Fernández-Millan: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
María Dolores Ruiz-Fernández: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Iria Dobarrio-Sanz: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Isabel María Fernández-Medina: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Pain, anxiety, or depression are very prevalent in children and adolescents with cancer, which is a great challenge for health professionals. Several studies pointing out the positive effect of technology on the management of symptoms have been published in recent years. Considering these studies is important in order to reduce the negative impact on the quality of life of this population. This study aimed to analyze the available evidence and to describe the benefits of the new technologies in the treatment of pain, anxiety, and depression in children and adolescents with cancer. A systematic search using six electronic databases was conducted to identify studies using technological interventions with a focus on pain, anxiety, and depression that were published from 2008 to 2018 including oncology patients from 0–18 years old. Out of the 1261 studies that were identified, five studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Robots were used in two studies, providing amusement and social interventions that showed significant improvements. Virtual reality, a mobile application, and a videogame were used in three studies and obtained beneficial results in pain and anxiety. The studies included in this review suggest that new technologies can be used as an innovative form of non-pharmacological intervention with therapeutic benefits.

Keywords: neoplasm; child; adolescent; cancer pain; anxiety; depression; technology; mobile applications; virtual reality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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