Cancer app reduces hospital admissions
A new digital tool created by the University of Hong Kong has demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing emergency hospital admissions for advanced cancer patients undergoing home-based palliative treatment, findings from a clinical study involving over 1,200 participants suggest. The SUPPORT+ mobile application, developed by the university’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, allows patients, their relatives, and caregivers to track health indicators remotely. The platform delivers automated guidance for symptom management and connects users with nursing support when conditions deteriorate.
The application provides educational resources about cancer treatment, palliative care protocols, and end-of-life support options. Users document both physical and emotional symptoms through the app, which then prompts them to evaluate symptom intensity using standardized measurement tools. When readings exceed predetermined levels, SUPPORT+ generates personalized educational materials and self-care recommendations while simultaneously notifying the nursing team for further evaluation.
Application Functionality
Nursing staff review the submitted symptom reports alongside each patient’s medical history to assess overall condition. Following this review, they contact patients or caregivers by telephone to conduct more detailed evaluations, offer medical advice, and determine if additional interventions or specialist referrals are required. The system also integrates the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale to monitor the effectiveness of palliative care interventions.
To date, SUPPORT+ has been downloaded approximately 76,000 times and utilized by more than 2,800 patients and family members. The application’s development and implementation have been fully funded by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Centenary Charity Programme. Between January 2023 and February 2025, researchers from the University of Hong Kong and six public hospitals conducted a randomized controlled trial examining the app’s impact on 1,214 advanced cancer patients receiving community-based palliative services.
Study results showed that patients using SUPPORT+ experienced fewer unplanned hospital admissions compared to those receiving standard care alone (17.2% versus 28.5%). Additionally, app users spent significantly less time hospitalized, averaging 3.4 days compared to 7.3 days in the control group. Participants using the application also reported better overall health-related quality of life and greater confidence in managing their symptoms throughout the study period.
Key Factors in Positive Results
The research team credited these improvements primarily to the enhanced nursing support system. “They conduct timely evaluations, offer psychosocial support, and provide emotional assistance to both patients and caregivers. This helps families determine whether a hospital visit is truly necessary or if the situation can be safely managed at home.”
Before the large-scale trial, SUPPORT+ underwent testing at Queen Mary Hospital. The research received additional funding from Hong Kong’s Health and Medical Research Fund. The application was specifically designed to address gaps in current care by transitioning from a reactive approach to a more proactive monitoring system that delivers customized self-management advice and triggers early intervention when needed.
The development team is now extending SUPPORT+ to include patients aged 65 and older who are beginning new cancer treatments. Plans are also underway to implement the app across additional public and private hospitals as well as community palliative care services throughout Hong Kong.
The clinical trial followed all participants for 18 weeks, with 590 individuals using SUPPORT+ alongside conventional care and 624 receiving standard care only. These findings have been published in JAMA Network Open, showing the potential benefits of digital health technologies in enhancing cancer and palliative care delivery.
Current expansion efforts aim to integrate SUPPORT+ into more healthcare facilities and community services across Hong Kong. The initiative seeks to provide broader access to these digital support resources for cancer patients, caregivers, and their families.
