Reminders, rewards and more helped kids with cancer look after their own care
- Helped
Across 30 studies, reminders and rewards helped kids with cancer take pills and track how they felt, more than others.
Pooled analysis of 30 studies with 3,400 people · vs a mix of different other groups · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ mixes trials with other kinds of study; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited
The review
Who took part
The review pooled 30 studies with about 3,400 children with cancer. The studies were of different kinds, not all of the same design.
What they did
Children got programmes built on how people really make choices. These used reminders, rewards, helpful framing, showing what others do, good default options and making a commitment. The programmes aimed to help them take their medicine and keep track of their symptoms and health routines. The other groups got a mix of different things.
What happened
The programmes led to a medium-sized improvement in looking after their own care, such as taking medicine and tracking symptoms. Results varied somewhat between studies. Leaving out the studies at high risk of bias did not change the result much. There were no signs of missing unpublished studies. The authors were moderately sure of the result.
Source
Self-management behavior of children with cancer based on behavioral economics: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026)
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-04707-y (opens in a new tab)Tools in this review
Rule · how5
Get a reward or payment for doing itIncentives, prizes, lotteries or points for doing it.
