Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel, an integrative medicine physician and Dr Penny Kechagioglou, consultant clinical oncologist, have launched an integrative oncology app and website, which is free at the point of use for all adult cancer patients globally.
The Oncio App – Integrative Oncology in action – is a free app available to adults affected by cancer, aiming to empower them to practically put integrative oncology tools and strategies into action.
It has been designed to be used by people at any point in their cancer care pathway, from diagnosis through active treatment and survivorship, to living well with cancer and it is also designed to be used by their carers.
On the app, the co-founders said: “The app content has been co-created by multi-disciplinary cancer teams, experts in the field, is all evidence-based and peer-reviewed and will continue to be updated as new research findings arise.” They add that “a patient lived-experience panel has advised on content and design” which has helped “to ensure that the app is patient-centred, friendly to the end-user, simple and practical”.
The co-founders aim to address challenges and unresolved issues associated with coordination of post-treatment care and funding of supportive care after cancer treatment, by offering complementary and lifestyle interventions with conventional cancer treatments in routine clinical practice – known as Integrative Oncology.
Dr Penny Kechagioglou, consultant clinical oncologist, the chief clinical information officer and deputy chief medical officer at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, commented: “I am really looking forward to offering this free app to all my cancer patients in clinic at diagnosis, the most difficult time for them to navigate through options and advocate for their personal health and wellbeing and I hope all my oncology colleagues do same.”
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel, Oxbridge-trained integrative medicine doctor, scientist and educator, added: “The Oncio app aims to empower the person affected by cancer with an evidence-informed toolkit that is practical and easy to use and cuts through the noise of conflicting information of variable quality and relevance. We look forward to continuing to co-develop and evolve the app content and functionality with our professional and lived experience communities in the UK and beyond.”
One of the first patient’s to use the app commented to say: “The co-founders have ensured that a robust design and testing process of the app has taken place to provide the best possible user experience. In addition, they have incorporated established patient-reported outcome measures for patients to complete at regular intervals which will help them self-monitor, empower them to take action and also inform their clinical teams who can then tailor their care approach accordingly.”
To find out more, visit the Oncio website here.
