The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a computer-based automated symptom monitoring telephone system used by patients who received chemotherapy for their cancer to communicate unrelieved symptoms they experienced to their oncology providers.
The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a computer-based automated symptom monitoring telephone system used by patients who received chemotherapy for their cancer to communicate unrelieved symptoms they experienced to their oncology providers. The symptoms monitored in the project were nausea/vomiting, pain, sore mouth, diarrhea, constipation, depressed mood, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and fatigue. The study randomly assigned participants into either the intervention group or the group that received usual care from their oncology providers without alert notifications. All participants called the automated system daily to report their symptom presence, severity, and distress. When participants in the intervention group rated symptoms at moderate (4-7) to severe (8-10) levels an e-mail alert report of their symptom information was sent to the participant's medical oncologist and oncology nurse. The usual care group also reported symptoms daily to the automated system but their information was not sent to the providers. Participants in the usual care group were told daily to call their oncology provider if they had concerns about their symptoms. The two study groups were compared over chemotherapy cycles 2 and 3 on symptom presence, severity, and distress. Functional status, patient reported degree of symptom interference with normal activities, and work attendance if they had indicated that they worked during their treatment were also recorded. In addition, the groups were compared for the number and purpose of unscheduled patient-provider contacts, visits to the emergency department or urgent care facility, and unscheduled hospitalizations.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
250
The Provider Unrelieved Symptom Alert intervention sent an automatic symptom report to oncology providers (both physician and nurse) when the patient reported symptoms at a moderate to severe level (4-10 on a 0-10 scale). The oncology providers used their clinical judgement in terms of what they did with the information received. There was no prescribed response as part of the intervention.
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
South Carolina Community Oncology Practice
Greer, South Carolina, United States
University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Patient reported symptom levels on a 0-10 scale
During daily automated calls, patients provided information about common chemotherapy symptoms.
Time frame: patients report symptoms daily for the duration of the study, an expected average of 6 weeks
Medical Encounters Telephone Interview
When a patient reports during their daily phone call with the automated symptom monitoring system that they had been in contact with a health care provider, the research staff would conduct a short telephone interview to collect data about the nature of the medical encounter including whether the medical encounter was related to the symptoms being monitored by the system.
Time frame: participants will be followed for an expected average of 6 weeks
Functional Status
The SF-12 was administered monthly to measure functional status.
Time frame: monthly for the duration of the study, participants will be followed for an expected average of 6 weeks
Work Attendance
Patients who indicated at study enrollment that they planned to work during treatment answered a yes/no question during the automated symptom monitoring system call to report whether or not they worked the previous day.
Time frame: reported daily, participants will be followed for an expected average of 6 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.