Modern technologies in cancer patient rehabilitation: A systematic review of clinical evidence and patient outcomes

Introduction Cancer rehabilitation is a vital component of comprehensive cancer care that enhances patients' quality of life throughout their cancer journey. As medical technology advances, innovative solutions are increasingly incorporated into rehabilitation protocols for cancer patients. These technologies support patients across all stages - from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship - addressing their diverse needs. While technological solutions in cancer rehabilitation are becoming more common, there is a pressing need to evaluate their effectiveness comprehensively. This study examines how technological interventions affect rehabilitation outcomes across four patient groups: those about to begin cancer treatment, patients in active treatment, those who have completed treatment, and cancer survivors. Through analysis of studies 2014–2020, covering 1662 patients, this review provides a thorough assessment of technology-enhanced cancer rehabilitation and its implications for future clinical practice. Aim Purpose of the search was to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed new technologies in rehabilitation outcomes in patients with cancer. Material and methods PubMed, PubMed Medline, Google Scholar engines were searched focusing on publications between 2014 and 2020 in the English language. Results and discussion The search included and evaluated 16 studies published between 2014 and 2020, which represented 1,662 patients scheduled to initiate cancer treatment, actually undergoing cancer treatment, with terminated cancer treatment, and cancer survivors. Conclusions New technologies may improve rehabilitation in cancer patients or cancer survivors but more research is still required with larger trial groups of patients to fully evaluate outcomes and efficacy of such interventions.