Digital Health Management via IKAP Theory Improves Upper Limb Function and Psychological Adaptation in Postmastectomy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate IKAP theory-based digital health management in improving upper limb function and psychological adaptation in postmastectomy breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

We conducted a two-arm, parallel-group RCT with 200 postmastectomy patients at Nantong University Affiliated Hospital from July to December 2024. All patients were divided into two categories: 100 patients each in the experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent a 12-week digital health management using IKAP theory, and the control group received routine care. We assessed all primary outcome measures, including the Information Needs Questionnaire (INQ), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale, the Cancer Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (C-PTGI), the Breast Cancer Postoperative Functional Exercise Adherence Scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) Questionnaire, at two distinct time points: before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks of IKAP theory-based digital health management, breast cancer patients exhibited reduced information needs compared with the control group. Furthermore, this cohort exhibited marked improvement in upper extremity dysfunction when compared with the control cohort. The experimental group's post-traumatic growth levels, compliance with postoperative functional exercises, and quality of life were higher than the control group, respectively. The inter-group differences in all these indicators were statistically significant (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

IKAP theory-based digital health management significantly enhanced breast cancer survivors' functional recovery and psychological adaptation.