Developing a technology-based intervention for empowering cancer patients from low-income backgrounds: a lifecycle approach

Abstract

Despite significant advances across the cancer continuum from prevention through survivorship, achieving uniform high-quality, patient-centered care for all remains a challenge. We have entered the era of precision medicine and multi-modal treatment where the promise of cure is great. Yet fragmented care and disparities in cancer outcomes persist, especially among those individuals from low income and under-resourced backgrounds. Thoughtful, mindful, and purposeful implementation of technology-based innovations have the potential to empower cancer patients and improve long-term outcomes and overall quality of life. These innovations have the potential to provide access to early detection and treatment and to extend and streamline cancer care coordination efforts by complementing and enhancing provider roles throughout the cancer continuum. Technology can be leveraged to mitigate limited resources and in turn improve long-term cancer outcomes for low-income cancer patients. While innovations in technology span a broad spectrum of advancement, we focus here on a technology-based intervention that serves the end goal of empowering patients throughout the cancer continuum as an example of what can be done to support cancer care and management through technology-based innovations.