A Randomized Controlled Trial: eHealth Interventions for Self-Management and Psychological Coping in Cancer Patients

Background: Enhancing self-management and coping strategies in cancer patients is critical to improving their quality of life and treatment outcomes. eHealth interventions, such as mobile apps, telehealth platforms, and online support tools, offer accessible, personalized, and cost-effective solutions that empower patients to actively manage their symptoms, adhere to treatment plans, and reduce psychological distress. These digital tools play a pivotal role in bridging care gaps, especially for individuals facing barriers to in-person support, underscoring their growing importance in modern oncology care. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an eHealth intervention in enhancing self-management and coping strategies in cancer patients. Methods: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and is reported in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines to ensure transparent and comprehensive reporting. A study and control group pre-test/post-test design was employed to investigate the impact of the intervention in the cities of Shaqra and Sajir, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 212 participants were recruited using the Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy Scale (SMSE) and the Jaloweic Coping Scale. Result: Before the intervention, the correlation between coping behaviors and self-management practices was weak and statistically insignificant for both groups (study: r = 0.091, p = 0.351; control: r = 0.048, p = 0.622). After the intervention, a significant positive correlation emerged in the study group (r = 0.267, p = 0.006), suggesting that improvements in coping behaviors were associated with enhanced self-management practices. However, no significant change was observed in the control group (r = 0.081, p = 0.412). Conclusions: The intervention significantly improved self-management practices and coping behaviors in the study group, while the control group showed minimal or no improvement. The findings indicate that self-management and coping strategies are interrelated, and demographic factors such as age, education, and income influence the extent of improvement. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT07457112, registered on 5 March 2026, retrospectively registered.