Abstract
Background: The integration of internet of things (IoT) technologies into cancer care has created new opportunities for real-time patient monitoring and personalized treatment management. Although research findings suggest the usefulness of these technologies, it is unclear how well they can be implemented in practice, how well patients accept them, and what impact they have on quality of life (QoL) for people with cancer.
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the feasibility, patient acceptance, and clinical impact of IoT-based interventions on the QoL in cancer patients.
Methods: Thirty-three studies with over 7800 patients across a range of cancers were reviewed. Interventions included wearable devices, mobile applications, and integrated IoT platforms combining sensors, apps, and clinician dashboards to measure treatment progress, QoL, and early detection of complications. Treatment adherence, QoL outcomes, and early detection of adverse events were analyzed, and a meta-analysis was conducted for 12 studies.
Results: The results showed that the use of IoT technologies has high feasibility and acceptance, with adherence rates ranging from 63% to 98%. The type of device affected both adherence and effectiveness. For example, wearable gadgets alone improved QoL to some extent, but integrated IoT systems had the greatest impact on symptom management, patient engagement, and overall improvement in QoL. This meta-analysis demonstrated a moderate positive effect, with an SMD of approximately 0.48, confirming a moderate positive effect on QoL. Breast cancer patients benefited the most, especially in reducing fatigue and improving sleep and physical activity. These technologies also support continuous monitoring, early detection of adverse events, timely interventions, and potential reduction in healthcare costs.
Conclusion: IoT-based technologies, especially integrated platforms, have been shown to effectively improve QoL of cancer patients, especially in those with breast cancer. The right combination of devices and a user-friendly design plays a major role in improving outcomes. However, technical difficulties, low long-term participation, and poor digital literacy remain challenges. Future research should focus on developing standardized protocols, examining long-term outcomes, using artificial intelligence, and implementing this technology equitably across patient populations.