Effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) in Symptom Management of Prostate Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Mobile health (mHealth) is an accessible strategy to deliver health information and becoming increasingly popular as a form of follow-up among medical staff. However, the effects of mobile health on the physical and mental health outcomes of prostate cancer patients after discharge from hospital remain unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the current evidence regarding the effects of mHealth interventions on prostate cancer patients outcomes.Methods Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central electronic database, EMBASE and Web of science) were searched from inception to November 8, 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of mobile health versus usual care on prostate cancer patients outcomes.Pooled outcome measures were determined using random-effects models.Eleven RCTs including 1,368 patients met the criteria for inclusion in this meta-analysis.Meta-analyses revealed a significant effect of mHealth interventions on long-term bowel function outcomes (standard mean difference [SMD]=0.19, 95%CI=0.