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Cancer Care Ontario's Systematic Symptom Screening Strategy: A Human-Centred Design Approach to Exploring System Gaps
Sean Molloy1, Tom McHugh2, Heidi Amernic3
1Senior director, Quality, Safety and Innovation, Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph's Health Centre and St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON. Sean was formerly the program manager, Patient Reported Outcomes and Symptom Management at Cancer Care Ontario. He is currently completing a Master of Design (Strategic Foresight and Innovation) at OCAD University in Toronto, with a focus on how health systems are using design as an enabler for innovation in healthcare.
Cancer symptom management is crucial for improving patient quality of life. A summit brought together patients, families, and healthcare leaders to co-design solutions for better symptom care and reporting using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Advocacy
Background:
- Cancer patients face significant symptom burden, impacting quality of life.
- Effective symptom management can reduce emergency department visits.
- Standardized screening using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was implemented in Ontario.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address gaps in addressing patient symptom information.
- To improve the quality of cancer symptom management.
- To co-design context-specific solutions for regional cancer care.
Main Methods:
- A Symptom Management Summit was convened.
- Patient and family advisors collaborated with clinicians, administrators, and health system leaders.
- Perspectives were shared to co-design regional care solutions.
Main Results:
- Identified gaps in current patient symptom information utilization.
- Facilitated collaborative design of region-specific care improvements.
- Enhanced understanding of patient and family needs in symptom management.
Conclusions:
- Collaboration between patients, families, and healthcare providers is key to improving cancer symptom management.
- Co-designed, context-specific solutions are essential for effective care.
- Addressing patient-reported symptoms requires systemic improvements in information flow and action.