Developing a digital intervention for cancer survivors: an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach

TLDR

The study presents a rigorous evidence‑, theory‑ and person‑based framework for developing digital interventions for cancer survivors. The intervention was designed through a rapid scoping review of 49 papers to establish guiding principles, theory‑based behavioural analysis, and a logic model, then refined via prototype testing with 96 survivors and 31 NHS staff and charity workers. Interviews and focus groups revealed engagement barriers such as fatigue from physical activity and limited appointment time, leading to intervention modifications that improved acceptability, feasibility, and potential behavior change, demonstrating the value of the systematic method for future digital intervention development.

Abstract

Abstract This paper illustrates a rigorous approach to developing digital interventions using an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach. Intervention planning included a rapid scoping review that identified cancer survivors’ needs, including barriers and facilitators to intervention success. Review evidence ( N = 49 papers) informed the intervention’s Guiding Principles, theory-based behavioural analysis and logic model. The intervention was optimised based on feedback on a prototype intervention through interviews ( N = 96) with cancer survivors and focus groups with NHS staff and cancer charity workers ( N = 31). Interviews with cancer survivors highlighted barriers to engagement, such as concerns about physical activity worsening fatigue. Focus groups highlighted concerns about support appointment length and how to support distressed participants. Feedback informed intervention modifications, to maximise acceptability, feasibility and likelihood of behaviour change. Our systematic method for understanding user views enabled us to anticipate and address important barriers to engagement. This methodology may be useful to others developing digital interventions.