Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform
Published on: April 12, 2021
The Development of iManage-PC, an Online Symptom Monitoring and Self-management Tool for Men With Clinically
Karly M Murphy1, Christina Sauer, Dershung Yang
1Author Affiliations: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Drs Murphy, Schalet, and Victorson and Ms Sauer), Chicago; Bright Outcome (Dr Yang and Ms Hass), Buffalo Grove; Division of Urology, NorthShore University Health System (Drs Novakovic and Helfand), Evanston; and Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Dr Nadler), Chicago, Illinois; and Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine (Dr Murphy), Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Background:
Prostate cancer (PC) often impacts 4 major aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQL): urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction, and anxiety. Online tools may be helpful in supporting the development of self-management skills that can improve HRQL.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to develop and pilot-test an online symptom monitoring and self-management program, iManage-PC.
Methods:
A literature search, input from experts, and feedback from patients were used to develop iManage-PC. A 4-week, single-arm pilot study was conducted with 96 men with prostate cancer. We evaluated system usability, acceptance, and satisfaction and examined preliminary effects on patient-reported outcomes.
Results:
Rates of retention (94.8%) and adherence to symptom monitoring (95.0%-97.0%) were high. Most participants rated the tool as satisfactory and acceptable (81.2%-94.3%). Related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank tests revealed that participants reported increased self-efficacy related to their ability to manage their adverse effects (T = 1772.0, P < .001, r = 0.39), physical discomfort (T = 1259.0, P < .001, r = 0.40), and stress and worry (T = 1108.5, P = .001, r = 0.34). Global mental and physical health also improved (T = 1322.0, P = .032, r = 0.23, and T = 1409.0, P = .001, r = 0.35, respectively).
Conclusions:
Future research with such tools should examine the potential role of cut-score-derived management interventions to improve engagement, symptom management self-efficacy, and HRQL.
Implications For Practice:
Our findings are consistent with a growing body of literature that supports the feasibility and acceptability of remotely delivered interventions.
