Digital Health Tool Helps Patients With Prostate Cancer During Consultations

The digital health tool MyCareGorithm was described as "very helpful" by patients and physicians.

The use of the MyCareGorithm digital health tool for prostate cancer consultations resulted in high levels of satisfaction and comprehension, as patients and physicians reported 84% or higher approval in all categories investigated, according to data presented in a poster at the 2025 ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Symposium.

“Implementing the MyCareGorithm digital health tool resulted in high levels [of] patient satisfaction, comprehension, and enhanced the overall consult experience,” wrote researchers in their poster. “Physicians also report high patient satisfaction and comprehension, enhancements to the overall consult, and improved clinical efficiency. The recurring comment from both physicians and patients was ‘helpful.’”

Participants in the prospective pilot study included 31 patients with prostate cancer, 12 companions, and 2 physicians. Patients and companions completed a 6-question survey, and physicians were given a similar 7-question survey. Questions consisted of positively framed statements regarding MyCareGorithm’s level of quality or usefulness, and participants were asked to respond “yes” or “no.”

According to images on the poster, MyCareGorithm features diagrams of the cancer site’s affected and surrounding organs, the patient’s risk stratification, definitions of terms like grade groups, and information about therapies. Highlighted resources include information on side effects/complications, symptom management, supportive care, and videos.

All patients reported that MyCareGorithm helped them better understand their prostate cancer diagnosis and that they would recommend the tool to other patients. Ninety-seven percent of patients agreed that it helped them greater understand their prostate cancer and that it enhanced the quality of the consultation, and 90% agreed MyCareGorithm helped them greater understand treatment. The statement least agreed with by patients (84%) was “would review the information after consult.”

Additionally, 100% of physicians agreed that the digital tool helped patients greater understand their prostate cancer, that it helped patients understand treatment, and that they would recommend the tool to other patients. Ninety-seven percent of physicians also reported that it enhanced the quality of the consultation and helped ease communication of complex information.

The tool also improved efficiency of the consultation and helped the physician provide more effective consult, as reported by 94% of physicians.

All companions of patients surveyed indicated that MyCareGorithm helped patients greater understand their prostate cancer, helped patients greater understand treatment, enhanced the quality of the consultation, and helped patients greater understand their medical situation, in addition to recommending the tool to other patients.

Further comments from patients included several remarks of the tool being “very helpful,” and physicians described the infographics specifically as “helpful” in multiple instances.

“The positive results show the value of this digital communication tool,” wrote researchers in the poster’s abstract. “Further studies with a larger cohort and other disease sites should be assessed.”

Additional resources on the multimedia tool that were visible on the poster include a diagram that visually explains the Gleason’s pattern scale, a chart of androgen deprivation therapy side effects, and a PET/CT scan with a descriptive caption.

Reference

Walker K, Samadi S, Chen J, Showalter TN, Luminais C. Implementation of a digital multimedia tool for prostate cancer patient consultation. J Clin Oncol. 43, 2025 (suppl 5; abstr 345). doi: 10.1200/JCO.2025.43.5_suppl.345