Wearable technology, such as Fitbits along with synced iPads, may help improve quality of life for adolescents and young adults with cancer, according to a study published in Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.
Researchers offered Fitbits, along with synced iPads to study participants aged 15 to 29 at the time of cancer diagnosis.
Patients completed the Short Form Health Survey developed by RAND assessing eight dimensions of health-related quality of life when they began participating in the study and at their 6-month follow-up or the end of treatment, whichever occurred first. Additionally, they completed a questionnaire assessing user experience at their follow-up.
Of the 33 study participants, 85 percent reported enjoying the digital technology and using the devices to track multiple aspects of their health. Seventy-nine percent reported a subjective increase in physical activity. Participants also demonstrated significant improvements across all eight dimensions of health-related quality of life measured by the RAND form.