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RACS ASC 2026
Strengthening Adjuvant Colorectal Cancer Care in Resource-Constrained Countries: Pilot Evaluation of an e-Health Support Program in India
Poster
Presentation Description

Institution: King George’s Medical University - Lucknow, India

Background: In India, patients with colorectal cancer receiving adjuvant systemic therapy often manage treatment-related toxicities at home with limited access to timely guidance, which can adversely affect adherence. A web-based support program (e-Cancer Care) was developed to deliver automated reminders and provide access to a helpline to support symptom reporting and self-management. Methods: This prospective, non-randomised comparative pilot study enrolled 60 patients and allocated them to e-Cancer Care or routine care. The intervention consisted of a web-based application integrated with a helpline for 24-hour correspondence; registered patients received reminder messages for subsequent treatment cycles. The primary outcome was adherence to scheduled therapy, assessed by attendance within 7 days of the due date. Results: Attendance within 7 days of the scheduled therapy date was higher in the e-Cancer Care group (28/30; 93%) than in the routine care group (21/30; 70%) (p=0.0208). The mean medication possession ratio (MPR) in the intervention group was 0.82 (±0.036). Patient-reported well-being and treatment satisfaction were better in the intervention group, and adverse effects were reported earlier (at lower grades) compared with routine care. Conclusion: In this pilot cohort, a web-based reminder system integrated with a 24-hour helpline improved treatment adherence and patient-reported outcomes. Larger, preferably randomised studies are warranted to confirm effectiveness and generalisability. Keywords: web-based application; e-health; colorectal cancer; adherence; adjuvant systemic therapy; reminders; helpline.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Aashna Mahendru - , Prof Abhinav Arun Sonkar - , Dr Akshay Anand - , Dr Ashish Mishra -