REACH: A Patient Friendly App to Support Cancer Rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Cancer treatments cause adverse effects impacting daily life and are often underreported.
• Underreporting limits access to crucial rehabilitation services for cancer survivors.
• Existing systems lack systematic methods for early detection and management of treatment-related impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the REACH system, an electronic Prospective Surveillance Model (PSM).
• To systematically collect electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) for cancer patients.
• To improve screening for impairments, deliver personalized resources, and recommend rehabilitation referrals.

Main Methods:

• REACH employs a PSM using electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO).
• Key components include Dynamic Survey Controller, Resource Library Manager, and Results Logic Processor.
• The system was developed collaboratively, prioritizing usability, security, scalability, and sustainability.

Main Results:

• REACH was deployed at four Canadian cancer centers, registering over 600 patients.
• Patients received personalized resource recommendations, including self-management education and community programs.
• The system successfully identified impairments and suggested appropriate referrals for further management.

Conclusions:

• The REACH system effectively addresses underreporting of cancer treatment side effects.
• It facilitates personalized self-management and timely access to rehabilitation services.
• This electronic PSM model shows promise for enhancing supportive care in oncology.