The potential of experience sampling methods in palliative care

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care Research
• Psychological Research Methods
• Oncology Patient Experience

Background:

• Experience sampling methods (ESM) involve frequent self-reports to capture daily life fluctuations.
• ESM offers unique insights into the everyday experiences of individuals with advanced illness.
• Current use of ESM in palliative care research remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce ESM as a valuable tool for palliative care research.
• Assess the feasibility and acceptability of ESM in patients with advanced cancer.
• Explore the everyday experiences of individuals with advanced breast or lung cancer.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of published health research utilizing ESM.
• Development and application of a novel ESM questionnaire (ESM-AC).
• Pilot study involving participants with advanced breast or lung cancer.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated appropriate feasibility of ESM in the target population.
• Confirmed acceptable participant burden associated with ESM use.
• Collected preliminary data on the daily experiences of advanced cancer patients.

Conclusions:

• ESM holds significant potential for understanding the dynamics of daily life in advanced illness.
• Careful consideration of sampling protocols and participant burden is necessary for effective ESM implementation.
• The ESM-AC is a feasible and acceptable tool for studying advanced cancer patients' daily experiences.