A smartphone application for people with cancer to help reduce distress and unmet needs.

INTERVENTION: The smartphone application comprises: a) the free downloadable ACE application to a smartphone or similar tablet device, providing patients access to their appointments; cancer information, improved access to the Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support Service that links them by telephone follow up to a range of community based supportive care services as required; and b) identification of distress with subsequent follow up by the Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support Service for referral to psychological services. Those with elevated levels will be signaled by IT services and referred onto the 13 11 20 service for follow up with a name and contact telephone number. This intervention supports the physical, psychological, social, and information needs of people with cancer and aims to reduce unmet needs and distress of people with cancer while improving their ability to participate in their own health care. For participants randomized into the intervention group, the ACE application will be downloaded onto their Smartphone or similar tablet device and they will be shown features of the app. For example, the ‘Appointments’ feature will allow participants to view their scheduled upcoming appointments and enable participants to view details of each booking and facilitate requests to re‐schedule existing bookings (which will trigger an automatic email to oncology reception at their health service with subsequent telephone follow up to confirm change in appointment). Other features include cancer information including links to reputable cancer specific websites for the participant to access; hospital maps for navigating around the hospital, improved access to the Cancer Council 13 11 20 telephone support service and available peer and online support groups; information on allied health services available at their health service, prompt to complete the Distress Thermometer (DT) at four time points: baseline and monthly thereafter for 3 months with follow up by the Cancer Council 13 11 20 Service for those with levels 7 or higher, which will trigger an automatic email to the Cancer Council 13 11 20 Service to follow up with the patient within 4 hours. In order to monitor adherence, monthly notifications will be sent to each participant through the app to complete the distress thermometer on the due date. Participants will be able to use the ACE application for a duration of four months. CONDITION: Cancer Distess Health literacy Quality of life Unmet needs PRIMARY OUTCOME: Patient level of distress as assessed by the Impact of Events Scale (IES‐R). SECONDARY OUTCOME: Health education impact as assessed by The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) Health literacy as assessed by the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Patient’s unmet needs as assessed by the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS‐SF34). Quality of Life as assessed by the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL‐4D). Resource Use as assessed by the Resource Use Questionnaire (RUQ). Satisfaction with smartphone application (intervention group only) as assessed using a Satisfaction Survey specifically designed for this trial. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults, aged 18+ years, who are newly diagnosed cancer patients ‐ all cancer types comprising both solid tumors and haematological cancers ‐ with curative intent (stages 1‐3), attending day oncology centers for cycle 2‐5 of adjuvant chemotherapy or fraction 2‐5 for radiotherapy treatment for cancer; who are able to complete English language questionnaires; and have access to a Smartphone or similar tablet device (Android or iOS).