Digital health tools may ease anxiety and depression in colorectal cancer patients

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Frontiers in Medicine Published June 2, 2026 Medically reviewed June 2, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Digital health interventions may reduce anxiety and depression in colorectal cancer patients, but evidence is low-certainty.

A recent meta-analysis evaluated digital health interventions for colorectal cancer patients, focusing on anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The study pooled data from 2018 CRC patients, comparing digital interventions to control conditions. Results indicated potential reductions in anxiety (SMD = -0.90, 95% CI: -1.59 to -0.22) and depression (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.21), alongside improvements in quality of life (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.19 to 1.36).

However, the evidence was marked by substantial heterogeneity and low certainty, limiting definitive conclusions. Safety data were not reported, and no adverse events or discontinuations were noted. The findings suggest digital health tools hold promise for supportive care in this population, but they should be interpreted cautiously.

Practice relevance highlights that these interventions could reduce anxiety and depression while enhancing quality of life among CRC patients. Yet, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish more definitive conclusions, as the current evidence is not robust enough for widespread clinical adoption.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) patients generally experience distressing psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, which significantly diminish their quality of life. Digital health interventions have emerged as a promising complementary approach to managing these challenges. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to determine the effects of digital health interventions on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in CRC patients.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across ten databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, VIP, WanFang, and CBM) from inception to February 28, 2026. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of digital health interventions on anxiety, depression, and quality of life among CRC patients were eligible for inclusion. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 (ROB 2.0) was employed to assess methodological quality, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied to grade the certainty of evidence for each outcome. A random-effects model was used for all quantitative syntheses.ResultsA total of 15 randomized controlled trials comprising 2018 CRC patients were included. Pooled analyses revealed that digital health interventions were associated with a potential reduction in anxiety (SMD = -0.90, 95% CI: -1.59 to -0.22, I² = 93%, low certainty evidence) and depression (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.21, I² = 94%, low certainty evidence), and improvement in quality of life (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.19 to 1.36, I² = 96%, low certainty evidence) compared to control conditions.ConclusionsOur findings revealed that digital health interventions hold promise in reducing anxiety and depression and enhancing quality of life among CRC patients. Given the limitations posed by substantial heterogeneity and low evidence certainty, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish more definitive conclusions.