Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study

C. van Westerhuis; M. E. De Leeuwerk; E. W. J. van der Werf; H. M.  Kruizenga; V. de Groot; E. Geleijn; M. van der Leeden; M. van der Schaaf

doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0

Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study

C. van Westerhuis
, M. E. De Leeuwerk
, E. W. J. van der Werf
, H. M. Kruizenga
, V. de Groot
, E. Geleijn
, M. van der Leeden
, M. van der Schaaf

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Purpose
The Optimal Physical Recovery After Hospitalization (OPRAH) Intervention is a blended intervention, combining a smartphone app for self-monitoring of physical activity and protein intake with coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician, to enhance the functional recovery after gastro-intestinal or lung cancer surgery. The aim was to evaluate patients’ experiences with the OPRAH intervention.

Methods
This study used a multi-method approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the smartphone app. Sixty-eight patients were invited to complete the online survey, 58 providing responses. Purposeful sampling guided the selection of participants for interviews (n = 24), which focused on experiences with the application, activity tracker, and remote coaching. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive thematic approach.

Results
The app was rated with an excellent usability (mean ± SD SUS of 86.2 ± 12.0) and 97% of the patients would recommend the intervention to others. Patients reported that the intervention enhanced their understanding of their recovery process, motivated them to achieve protein and physical activity goals, and contributed to their overall recovery. The combination of app usage and monitoring by a physiotherapist and dietician fostered a sense of being supported. However, patients suggested that the intervention could be improved by further tailoring it to individual needs, detailing the nutritional component of the app, and redesigning the activity tracker bracelet.

Conclusions
The OPRAH intervention demonstrated excellent system usability and predominantly positive experiences. Incorporating patient recommendations could further support its integration into regular healthcare.

Original language	English
Article number	597
Number of pages	12
Journal	Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume	33
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0
Publication status	Published - Jul 2025

Funding

A research grant of the Amsterdam Movement Sciences Institute was received for financing 50% of a PhD project aiming to develop and evaluate an activity tracker-based feedback and coaching intervention for patients at risk for functional decline admitted to the hospital. This current RCT was conducted in support of this project. The funder had no role in the study design, the data collection, analysis, writing of the article, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. In addition, a research grant from Regieorgaan SIA supported this project financially (Grant SBV/RAAK.PUB09.039) was conducted.

Funders	Funder number
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Movement Sciences
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Regieorgaan Praktijkgericht Onderzoek SIA	SBV/RAAK.PUB09.039

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van Westerhuis, C., De Leeuwerk, M. E., van der Werf, E. W. J., Kruizenga, H. M., de Groot, V., Geleijn, E., van der Leeden, M., & van der Schaaf, M. (2025). Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(7), Article 597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0

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title = "Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study",

abstract = "Purpose The Optimal Physical Recovery After Hospitalization (OPRAH) Intervention is a blended intervention, combining a smartphone app for self-monitoring of physical activity and protein intake with coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician, to enhance the functional recovery after gastro-intestinal or lung cancer surgery. The aim was to evaluate patients{\textquoteright} experiences with the OPRAH intervention. Methods This study used a multi-method approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the smartphone app. Sixty-eight patients were invited to complete the online survey, 58 providing responses. Purposeful sampling guided the selection of participants for interviews (n = 24), which focused on experiences with the application, activity tracker, and remote coaching. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive thematic approach. Results The app was rated with an excellent usability (mean ± SD SUS of 86.2 ± 12.0) and 97\% of the patients would recommend the intervention to others. Patients reported that the intervention enhanced their understanding of their recovery process, motivated them to achieve protein and physical activity goals, and contributed to their overall recovery. The combination of app usage and monitoring by a physiotherapist and dietician fostered a sense of being supported. However, patients suggested that the intervention could be improved by further tailoring it to individual needs, detailing the nutritional component of the app, and redesigning the activity tracker bracelet. Conclusions The OPRAH intervention demonstrated excellent system usability and predominantly positive experiences. Incorporating patient recommendations could further support its integration into regular healthcare.",

keywords = "Cancer, Supportive Care, Surgery, Telerehabilition",

author = "\{van Westerhuis\}, C. and \{De Leeuwerk\}, \{M. E.\} and \{van der Werf\}, \{E. W. J.\} and Kruizenga, \{H. M.\} and \{de Groot\}, V. and E. Geleijn and \{van der Leeden\}, M. and \{van der Schaaf\}, M.",

note = "With supplementary files. ",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0",

language = "English",

volume = "33",

journal = "Supportive Care in Cancer",

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van Westerhuis, C, De Leeuwerk, ME, van der Werf, EWJ, Kruizenga, HM, de Groot, V, Geleijn, E, van der Leeden, M & van der Schaaf, M 2025, 'Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study', Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 33, no. 7, 597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0

Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study. / van Westerhuis, C.; De Leeuwerk, M. E.; van der Werf, E. W. J. et al.
In: Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 33, No. 7, 597, 07.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study

AU - van Westerhuis, C.

AU - De Leeuwerk, M. E.

AU - van der Werf, E. W. J.

AU - Kruizenga, H. M.

AU - de Groot, V.

AU - Geleijn, E.

AU - van der Leeden, M.

AU - van der Schaaf, M.

N1 - With supplementary files.

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - Purpose The Optimal Physical Recovery After Hospitalization (OPRAH) Intervention is a blended intervention, combining a smartphone app for self-monitoring of physical activity and protein intake with coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician, to enhance the functional recovery after gastro-intestinal or lung cancer surgery. The aim was to evaluate patients’ experiences with the OPRAH intervention. Methods This study used a multi-method approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the smartphone app. Sixty-eight patients were invited to complete the online survey, 58 providing responses. Purposeful sampling guided the selection of participants for interviews (n = 24), which focused on experiences with the application, activity tracker, and remote coaching. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive thematic approach. Results The app was rated with an excellent usability (mean ± SD SUS of 86.2 ± 12.0) and 97% of the patients would recommend the intervention to others. Patients reported that the intervention enhanced their understanding of their recovery process, motivated them to achieve protein and physical activity goals, and contributed to their overall recovery. The combination of app usage and monitoring by a physiotherapist and dietician fostered a sense of being supported. However, patients suggested that the intervention could be improved by further tailoring it to individual needs, detailing the nutritional component of the app, and redesigning the activity tracker bracelet. Conclusions The OPRAH intervention demonstrated excellent system usability and predominantly positive experiences. Incorporating patient recommendations could further support its integration into regular healthcare.

AB - Purpose The Optimal Physical Recovery After Hospitalization (OPRAH) Intervention is a blended intervention, combining a smartphone app for self-monitoring of physical activity and protein intake with coaching from a physiotherapist and dietician, to enhance the functional recovery after gastro-intestinal or lung cancer surgery. The aim was to evaluate patients’ experiences with the OPRAH intervention. Methods This study used a multi-method approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the smartphone app. Sixty-eight patients were invited to complete the online survey, 58 providing responses. Purposeful sampling guided the selection of participants for interviews (n = 24), which focused on experiences with the application, activity tracker, and remote coaching. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive thematic approach. Results The app was rated with an excellent usability (mean ± SD SUS of 86.2 ± 12.0) and 97% of the patients would recommend the intervention to others. Patients reported that the intervention enhanced their understanding of their recovery process, motivated them to achieve protein and physical activity goals, and contributed to their overall recovery. The combination of app usage and monitoring by a physiotherapist and dietician fostered a sense of being supported. However, patients suggested that the intervention could be improved by further tailoring it to individual needs, detailing the nutritional component of the app, and redesigning the activity tracker bracelet. Conclusions The OPRAH intervention demonstrated excellent system usability and predominantly positive experiences. Incorporating patient recommendations could further support its integration into regular healthcare.

KW - Cancer

KW - Supportive Care

KW - Surgery

KW - Telerehabilition

U2 - 10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0

DO - 10.1007/s00520-025-09641-0

M3 - Article

SN - 1433-7339

VL - 33

JO - Supportive Care in Cancer

JF - Supportive Care in Cancer

IS - 7

M1 - 597

ER -

Promising patient experiences with a smartphone app and remote coaching for improving physical activity and protein intake to enhance recovery after oncological surgery: a multi-methods study

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