The Future of Psychosocial Oncology: AI, Innovation, and the Next Era of Supportive Care-The Future of Psychosocial Oncology: AI, Innovation, and the Next Era of Supportive Care

The Future of Psychosocial Oncology: AI, Innovation, and the Next Era of Supportive Care

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, hosted by ACCC, focused on the future of psycho-oncology and how AI and digital tools may help address gaps in supportive cancer care. Speaker Jennifer Byers used the story of “Maria,” a breast cancer patient left distressed after hours, to highlight the real need for better between-visit support. She explained how tools like chatbots, predictive analytics, wearables, and mobile apps could provide psychoeducation, CBT-based support, early screening, and symptom monitoring.<br /><br />Byers reviewed different generations of chatbots and emphasized that large language models can be helpful but also risky, especially when patients seek mental health support. She shared research showing promising but still limited evidence for AI-based interventions in mental health and oncology, including apps and chatbots that reduced anxiety, depression, and distress. She stressed that evidence quality varies and that clinical efficacy, not just technical performance or user satisfaction, should guide adoption.<br /><br />A major part of the talk addressed ethics: bias, privacy, digital access, consent, and accountability. She encouraged clinicians to ask patients about AI use, evaluate vendors carefully, join institutional AI committees, and ensure equity and safety. The session ended with practical advice on staying current, learning from AI responsibly, and using these tools to augment—not replace—human care.

Keywords

psycho-oncology

artificial intelligence

digital tools

supportive cancer care

chatbots

predictive analytics

mental health support

ethical AI

patient monitoring