Evaluation of an online platform for cancer patient self-reporting of chemotherapy toxicities.
The current mechanism for monitoring toxicity symptoms in cancer trials depends on a complex paper-based process. Electronic collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) may be more efficient and accurate. An online PRO platform was created including a simple data entry interface, real-time report generation, and an alert system to e-mail clinicians when patients self-report serious toxicities. Feasibility assessment involving 180 chemotherapy patients demonstrated high levels of use at up to 40 follow-up clinic visits per patient over 16 months (85% of patients at any given visit), with high levels of patient and clinician acceptance and satisfaction (>95%). Alerts were used as the basis for delayed chemotherapy treatments, dose modifications, and scheduling changes. These results demonstrate that online patient-reporting is a feasible strategy for chemotherapy toxicity symptom monitoring, and may improve safety and satisfaction with care. Ongoing multi-center research will evaluate the impact of this approach on clinical and administrative outcomes.
Basch
Ethan
E
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. basche@mskcc.org
Artz
David
D
Iasonos
Alexia
A
Speakman
John
J
Shannon
Kevin
K
Lin
Kai
K
Pun
Charmaine
C
Yong
Henry
H
Fearn
Paul
P
Barz
Allison
A
Scher
Howard I
HI
McCabe
Mary
M
Schrag
Deborah
D
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009862:Online Systems; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents