About RECapp
Patients diagnosed with oesophageal or gastric cancer undergo extensive surgery for a chance of cure. Recovery after surgery is usually long, challenging, and quality of life is often reduced. It is therefore crucial to develop interventions that can reduce symptom burden and improve the quality of life of affected patients.
The Surgical Care Science research group has collaborated closely with patients treated for oesophageal and gastric cancer over many years. Affected patients have continually emphasised the importance of, and need for, personalised support after treatment.
In collaboration with partners and key stakeholders across Sweden (such as hospitals, the patient organisation PALEMA, the quality registry NREV, and National care program group for oesophageal and gastric cancer), we will test and evaluate RECapp, where patients who have undergone surgery will be monitored for symptoms in their home and guided to self-care advice or contact with healthcare services.
The study is planned to start in the spring of 2025.
Functions in RECapp
In RECapp patients assess their symptoms or health issues regularly, and based on their responses, they receive further guidance by the app. Here you can read more about some of the features of RECapp.
Screening
Screenings are conducted regularly assessing symptoms or health issues experienced over the past week. This includes physical symptoms, mental health challenges, and other factors that may affect recovery and quality of life. The patient then answers two to three questions regarding each reported symptom or health issue.
Self-care advice
If RECapp assesses that the patient would benefit from self-care advice, individually tailored suggestions are provided by the app. Self-care advice includes tips and recommendations that patients can do on their own to alleviate or manage their symptoms or health issues. Activated self-care advice will be regularly followed up via the app.
In-depth assessment
Based on screening results, RECapp may suggest in-depth assessments. The patient can then answer more detailed questions about their symptoms or health issues. Based on the results of the in-depth assessment, RECapp advises whether the symptom burden is expected, if self-care is recommended, or if there is a need to contact healthcare services.
Healthcare provider’s tool
RECapp is currently solely used for research purposes and with the patient's healthcare provider. The patient's symptoms and health issues are shared with the healthcare provider through a secure digital interface available through log-in by the assigned healthcare professional. The patient's results in RECapp can in this way be a valuable tool for further support and help from healthcare services.