Smartphones have revolutionized the way people access information across the world. Their ability to engage the user and deliver high-quality content is unsurpassed by any other device. Smartphone technology has the potential to provide information and support to patients by facilitating communication with their health care team. In the cancer control context, smart phone-based interventions offer new possibilities for health promotion and symptom management, and represent a potentially new platform for delivering interventions to reduce cancer patients’ unmet needs and distress, and improve their participation in health care.

This study aims to test whether access to a new smartphone app:
a) reduces levels of distress;
b) reduces unmet needs;
c) increases patient ability to participate in their own health management;
d) improves quality of life; and
e) is cost effective within a formal health economic evaluation.

This study is a multi-centred randomised controlled trial comprising 250 persons with cancer; 125 will each be randomly allocated to the intervention group or usual care control group. Assessments will occur at baseline and then one and 12 months after the app is downloaded onto the smartphone or similar device. The primary outcome is a reduction in distress levels; the secondary outcome is a reduction in unmet needs.
Setting. The study will take place across four health services (Barwon Health, Eastern Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Epworth Healthcare). Adults, newly diagnosed with cancer, receiving treatment with curative intent at day oncology or radiotherapy centres and who have access to a Smartphone or similar tablet device are eligible to participate.

The outcomes will inform agencies responsible for issuing guidance and strategy and provide the evidence for future clinical and supportive care initiatives. If effective, the results will inform policy and practice across health services and community organisations.

This study is funded by NHMRC Partnership grant #1094831.