OBJECTIVE: The use of digital technologies could improve patients’ quality of care, satisfaction, and health-related outcomes in cancer patients. This paper aims to explore the use of digital technologies in nursing management of cancer patients in Italy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed. PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (Embase), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Cochrane Library databases were consulted from September 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022. Key terms for Telenursing/Telemedicine and cancer in Italy were used. The quality of each study was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations method.

RESULTS: 131 articles were found and 5 were included: two randomized-clinical-trial protocols aimed to explore the impact of medication management apps on patients' quality of life; one validation trial suggested good reliability in the therapeutic adherence of patients on chemotherapy but limited sensitivity in detecting related adverse events; two observational studies described the validation of telephone triage prehospitalization programs performed by nurses during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of digital technologies in nursing management of cancer patients is infrequent, however, increased during the pandemic. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the use of digital technologies in nursing management in cancer patients.