Digital patient-reported outcome measures in palliative home care: A feasibility study

Patient-reported outcome measurement supports high quality patient-centred palliative care. Little is known about whether their digital application is feasible in palliative home care.

To test the feasibility of digital patient-reported outcome measure (ePROM) in specialist palliative home care (SPHC)Design:A feasibility study employing a mixed-methods design (Palli-MONITOR Phase II). The tested ePROM intervention was based on the electronic version of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (eIPOS). Data collection included the recruitment and drop-out rates, ePROM user characteristics and information on technical feasibility, and focus groups with SPHC professionals. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data, while focus groups were analysed using the framework approach. Integrated analysis was conducted through joint display.

Four German SPHC teams; patients used personal devices to complete eIPOS, with data sent to the SPHC electronic medical record; professionals joined focus groups.

The overall recruitment rate was 4.7% (82/1744), and 22.7% (82/361) among eligible patients. 60/82 patients completed the study. A total of 470 eIPOS forms were submitted to the SPHC teams. The rate of non-responses for closed-ended IPOS-items was low (max. 5.3%). Professionals noted that recruitment was challenged by patients' unstable conditions, short care duration, time constraints, team attitudes and technical barriers like limited internet access or device unfamiliarity.

Not all patients in SPHC can use ePROMs due to limited life expectancy and technical barriers. However, consistent and complete use of eIPOS forms indicates that it is feasible for digitally literate patients and can effectively support care.