Enhancing Circle-of-Care Communication in Pediatric Cancer Through Digital Health Technologies: A Scoping Review.

Effective communication in pediatric cancer care is crucial for informed decision-making among patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. This scoping review assesses evidence on digital tools designed to enhance circle-of-care communication for pediatric cancer patients and families. Eligible studies (2014-2024) evaluated digital health tools in pediatric cancer care (with functions that targeted information exchange among patients, caregivers, or clinicians); searched via MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE; and were in English. Twenty-eight studies were included, focusing on symptom tracking (n = 10), quality-of-life (QOL) monitoring (n = 5), and health information sharing (n = 8). Real-time symptom-tracking tools, such as SyMon-SAYS and RESPONSE, facilitated timely interventions by healthcare providers through automated alerts. QOL tools, like RetinoQuest and KLIK PROM, enabled healthcare providers to integrate patient-reported outcomes into care plans. However, patient- and caregiver-driven interventions, such as Sisom and Pain Buddy, faced challenges with adherence and accuracy of data entry. Information-sharing platforms (MyChart, Passport for Care) centralized data, improving transitions to adult care, but limited electronic health record integration constrained deployment. Digital tools have transformative potential for communication in pediatric cancer care but face barriers related to adherence, data accuracy, and scalability. Future innovations should prioritize real-time, multidisciplinary collaboration, seamless electronic health record integration, and user-centered design.