Remote monitoring has been shown to enhance recovery for cancer patients following surgery, according to a recent study published in the journal npj Digital Medicine. The research indicates that patients whose health teams monitored their symptoms remotely experienced quicker recovery times after major surgeries.
The study, led by Tracy Crane, director of lifestyle medicine, prevention, and digital health at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasizes the critical two-week period post-discharge. “Remote care helps bridge the gap between hospital and home, catching issues early and supporting recovery,” Crane noted in a recent press release.
For the study, researchers recruited 293 patients undergoing substantial abdominal or pelvic surgeries for cancers related to the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or gynecologic systems. Each participant was equipped with a wristband to monitor their daily step count and was instructed to report their post-operative symptoms through a smartphone application. Previous findings have linked increased daily steps to improved recovery outcomes.
Half of the participants received active remote telemonitoring, where triage nurses closely monitored their reported symptoms and step data, intervening when necessary. The remaining participants formed a control group, receiving only automated messages directing them to contact the hospital if their symptoms worsened.
The results demonstrated that patients with active remote monitoring achieved a 6% improvement in functional recovery by two weeks post-surgery and experienced fewer major complications. These patients also reported better management of symptoms and less disruption to their daily activities. Crane described the findings as “a call to innovate,” highlighting the potential of various available devices to track vital signs during recovery at home.
“Tomorrow’s providers should be comfortable with data streams from connected devices,” Crane stated. “By harnessing this data and collaborating across disciplines, we can center patient needs in every decision. Technology can help us achieve this.”
The research team encourages future studies to focus on determining the most effective monitoring methods for various surgical procedures and types of cancer.
For additional guidance on recovering from cancer surgery, the American Cancer Society offers extensive resources and support.