Evaluation of the electronic self-report Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi).
OBJECTIVE
We previously developed the paper-based Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) designed for paediatric cancer symptom screening. Objectives were to evaluate and refine the electronic mobile application (app) of SSPedi using the opinions of children with cancer.


METHODS
Participants were children 8-18 years of age with cancer. Participants completed electronic SSPedi on their own and then responded to semistructured questions to determine whether they found electronic SSPedi easy or difficult to complete and understand, understood and liked the app features (audio and animation), and understood previously difficult to understand concepts with the introduction of a help menu. After each group of 10 children, responses were reviewed to determine whether modifications were required.


RESULTS
20 children evaluated electronic SSPedi. None found electronic SSPedi difficult to complete or understand. All children understood the app features and each of the 4 more difficult to understand concepts after using the help menu. 19 of 20 children thought the app was a good way to communicate with doctors and nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
We finalised an electronic version of SSPedi that is easy to use and understand with features specifically designed to facilitate child self-report. Future work will evaluate the psychometric properties of electronic SSPedi.
Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cathy
C
O'Sullivan
Department of Pharmacy, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
L
L
Lee Dupuis
Departments of Haematology/Oncology and Pediatrics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
Paul
P
Gibson
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Donna L
DL
Johnston
Cancer Clinical Trials Office, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Christina
C
Baggott
Division of Haematology/Oncology, McMaster Children's Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Carol
C
Portwine
Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Brenda
B
Spiegler
Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Susan
S
Kuczynski
Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Deborah
D
Tomlinson
Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
George A
GA
Tomlinson
Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lillian
L
Sung
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000592:standards; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*
Cancer; electronic; paedriatric oncology; patient-reported outcome; symptom screening; tool development