Filling gaps in pediatric oncology care: A scoping review of challenges and requirements on digital care platforms (Preprint)

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UNSTRUCTURED Background: More than 200,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, requiring complex interdisciplinary care. The complexity of care pathways can create relevant gaps in care. Digital healthcare platforms represent a promising approach to address these gaps and optimize care delivery. This review aims to identify user requirements, challenges, and barriers related to the development and implementation of digital healthcare platforms in pediatric oncology to support the optimization of care. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE for studies published between 01/2011 and 02/2026 reporting user needs, requirements, benefits, challenges, and design-related aspects of digital healthcare platforms in oncology. Results: In total, 82 records were identified. After removal of duplicates, screening, and full-text assessment, 11 studies were included. Platform functions included access to laboratory results, medications, appointments, clinical notes, imaging results, and electronic health records, as well as secure messaging, educational materials, decision-support tools, patient-reported outcome measures, symptom monitoring, automated alerts, and reminder systems. For children, adolescents, and caregivers, reported benefits included improved information access, better understanding of disease and treatment, reassurance, care coordination, communication with healthcare professionals, symptom management, and greater involvement in care. Challenges across user groups included emotional distress, misunderstandings caused by medical terminology, information overload, privacy and confidentiality concerns, technical barriers, limited training, low digital health literacy, and increased workload for healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Digital healthcare platforms may support pediatric oncology care by addressing informational, communicative, and organizational needs of children, adolescents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Successful implementation requires user-centered design, age-appropriate content, clear privacy and proxy-access regulations, adequate training of patients and health care professionals, and integration into clinical workflows.

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