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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CATCH (Cancer: Activating Technology for Connected Health)

Teaser

Summary

In the past 10-15 years we have seen the emergence of significant evidence for the clinical effectiveness of active rehabilitation in cancer care, both in maximizing functional capacity and quality of life, and preventing secondary recurrence. However, many barriers to implementation of active rehabilitation in cancer care exist due to its profound physical and psychological implications. Furthermore, overall physical activity and health behavioural change is increasingly becoming important in cancer management.
Technology advances such as gamification based on biofeedback, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation can help address some of these barriers but much must be done before we can effectively marry the technological capability to the unmet clinical need. In particular we need to understand specific challenges and patient journeys associated with cancer care and how we can help patients to leverage psychological tools to better engage in their own care. We then need to optimize technological tools to meet patientsâ€™ rehabilitation needs, and finally, to understand how to bring resultant solutions to market where they can have maximal impact on quality of care. This can only be done by a multidisciplinary programme of research involving close collaboration between researchers in academic, clinical and industry settings.

CATCH â€“ offers 8 PhD positions in different institutions to research on connected health for patients with cancer. Advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have been ground-breaking, and we are now considering some cancers as chronic disease rather than fatal illness. This moves the point of focus in the fight against cancer from sustaining life towards maximizing functional capacity and Quality Of Life (QOL).

The eight research projects focused on identifying technological innovations to improve cancer rehabilitation and the quality of life of cancer patients are:
1. Artificial exercise support - this research project looks at how NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) may serve as an early-stage training modality for cancer patients, acting as an artificial exercise support.
2. Ethnographic analysis of the current care pathway from a patient perspective - uses ethnographic research methods drawn from the discipline of anthropology to more effectively capture patient insights.
3. Gamification strategies for health promotion of people affected by cancer - focuses on motivational aspects related to lifestyle change and improving health behaviour through the design of a gamification intervention.
4. Qualifying private organisationsâ€™ commercialisation efforts through stakeholder interactions - examines how stakeholder interactions influence the development and realisation of commercialisation plans.
5. Quantification of health habits and needs of people affected by cancer to improve their quality of life through physical activity- studies the needs and difficulties facing cancer patients by paying particular attention to the patientâ€™s adherence to physical activity guidelines, before and after their medical treatment.
6. Strategies for increasing mental wellbeing in patients with cancer - eHealth technologies are already used in mental health but this research project uses ethnographic research methods with cancer patients to allow for the design of a mobile application to cater specifically for the mental wellbeing of cancer patients.
7. Supporting commercialisation of technology-enabled cancer solutions through design thinking - this research project looks at user-centred innovation and co-creation, incorporating innovation problem solving and business development by hands-on experimenting, which will allow users and businesses to explore and uncover multiple relevant user needs that are also commercially viable.
8. Targeted rehabilitation exercise biofeedback system for cancer care - there is a need to develop a technology platform to accommodate rehabilitation exercises commonly prescribe

Work performed

All of the work packages have been progressing well. There were minor changes to the work packages that do not adversely affect the overall project or the deliverables.
There was an unavoidable delay to milestone 3: Personal Career Development Plans in place, due to the resignation of an ESR. This meant that a new ESR had to be recruited and this delayed the submission of this deliverable but did not adversely affect the project.

The governance structure and reporting processes were quickly implemented at the start of the project, and have been maintained throughout this period. Shared repositories and clear communication structures were implemented. A brand for the project was created with an online presence through social media and a website. Reporting templates have been designed and shared across the consortium for supervisors and ESRs. All training network events to date have taken place and all ESRs have been registered for a PhD with their relevant academic institution. All ESRs have had regular Doctoral Studies Panel meetings. In addition, six monthly meetings have been offered to the ESRs with the Project Coordinator and Programme Manager. A consortium agreement is in place and all committees have been held. The mid-term review meeting took place in June 2018 with positive feedback and recommendations that have been considered and implemented where possible. All metrics for dissemination and training have been monitored and are very positive. An IP process has been implemented and is running successfully. Articles have been shared through OpenAIRE and will continue to be. In the case of one deliverable, D2.1, an app to improve lifestyle and behaviour of cancer survivors, the due date was changed with approval from the project officer. With this amendment, all deliverables and milestones for this period have been met.

Final results

CATCH is a deep collaboration across academic, business and clinical sectors. Students benefit from intersectoral secondments, interdisciplinary communication skills, public engagement and outreach while working on a programme of interrelated core research projects addressing gaps in the knowledge and evidence base for technology enabled cancer rehabilitation.
This programme will contribute to improving the overall physical and psychological well-being of cancer patients, and to a better understanding of connected health. By advancing our knowledge of connected health applications, and their use towards improving quality of life, the CATCH programme brings us closer to widely used and affordable user-centred technology-enabled care in cancer rehabilitation.