title: Electronic self-report assessment for cancer and self-care support: results of a multicenter randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of a Web-based, self-report assessment and educational intervention on symptom distress during cancer therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 752 ambulatory adult participants were randomly assigned to symptom/quality-of-life (SxQOL) screening at four time points (control) versus screening, targeted education, communication coaching, and the opportunity to track/graph SxQOL over time (intervention). A summary of the participant-reported data was delivered to clinicians at each time point in both groups. All participants used the assessment before a new therapeutic regimen, at 3 to 6 weeks and 6 to 8 weeks later, completing the final assessment at the end of therapy. Change in Symptom Distress Scale-15 (SDS-15) score from pretreatment to end of study was compared using analysis of covariance and regression analysis adjusting for selected variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected a significant difference between study groups in mean SDS-15 score change from baseline to end of study: 1.27 (standard deviation [SD], 6.7) in the control group (higher distress) versus -0.04 (SD, 5.8) in the intervention group (lower distress). SDS-15 score was reduced by an estimated 1.21 (95% CI, 0.23 to 2.20; P = .02) in the intervention group. Baseline SDS-15 score (P < .001) and clinical service (P = .01) were predictive. Multivariable analyses suggested an interaction between age and study group (P = .06); in subset analysis, the benefit of intervention was strongest in those age > 50 years (P = .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Web-based self-care support and communication coaching added to SxQOL screening reduced symptom distress in a multicenter sample of participants with various diagnoses during and after active cancer treatment. Participants age > 50 years, in particular, may have benefited from the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Donna L. Berry, Fangxin Hong, Barbara Halpenny, and Ann H. Partridge, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Donna L. Berry and Ann H. Partridge, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Jesse R. Fann, Upendra Parvathaneni, Anthony L. Back, and Dagmar Amtmann, University of Washington Medical Center; Jesse R. Fann, Anthony L. Back, Dagmar Amtmann, and Rosemary Ford, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; Seth Wolpin and William B. Lober, University of Washington, Seattle; and Nigel E. Bush, National Center for Telehealth and Technology, US Department of Defense, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, WA.
authors.forename: Donna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Fangxin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halpenny
authors.forename: Ann H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: Jesse R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fann
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolpin
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Lober
authors.forename: Nigel E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Upendra
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Parvathaneni
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amtmann
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome