Electronic Patient Symptom Management Program to Support Patients Receiving Cancer Treatment at Home During the...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Digital Health
• Patient Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Remote patient monitoring (RPM) became essential for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The need for feasible and effective electronic patient symptom management (ePSM) programs was highlighted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and patient experience of an ePSM program implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze real-world data for quality improvement in cancer care delivery.

Main Methods:

• 282 patients with breast, lung, ovarian cancers, multiple myeloma, or AML undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled.
• Patients used smartphones, tablets, or computers to complete symptom surveys based on National Cancer Institute criteria.
• Symptom reports triggered care guidelines or provider phone calls based on severity.

Main Results:

• High enrollment (282 patients) and survey completion rate (88%) demonstrated program feasibility and acceptance.
• 54% of patients reported severe symptoms requiring immediate provider notification.
• Longitudinal data analysis explored prediction of alerts and symptom resolution post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• The ePSM program was successfully implemented and accepted by cancer patients during the pandemic.
• The system effectively managed severe symptoms through guided self-management and provider intervention.
• Standardized approaches and validated instruments offer opportunities for improving and benchmarking cancer care outcomes.