Observational MyPal-Child Study on the ePRO-based Early Palliative Care Digital System in Paediatric Oncology Patients

Centre for Research and Technology Hellas100 enrolled

Overview

The main aim of the study is the evaluation of the feasibility of comprehensive service which has been developed while considering patient-orientated needs. With regard to the study, apps have been developed for both groups of participants, parents and their child which suffers from cancer. These apps aim at supporting the documentation and communication of the own condition. This includes for example a video game which can be played via tablet or smartphone in which questions appear addressing the personally perceived burden by children amongst other things. Participants of the study are children between 6 and 17 years of age which suffer from leukemia or tumors. Further participants of the study are at least one of the patient's parents. It is an observational study. Within the course of the study, the usual treatment is not altered actively by the study, it is, however, supplemented by questionnaires which will be analyzed being anonymized after the end of the study running time.

The study is designed as observational prospective feasibility study. The main objective is to assess the feasibility of a comprehensive, patient-centred service for palliative care in children with cancer by adapting and advancing ePRO systems, which aim at supporting the communication between the patients, their parents and the treating medical healthcare professionals. Participants of the study are pediatric oncology patients between 6 and 17 years of age and at least one of their parents, receiving treatment at one of the participating clinical centers due to leukemia or solid tumors. With regard to the study, apps have been developed for both groups of participants, which includes inter alia a game in which questions about burden considering symptoms can be answered by the children.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Leukemia, Childhood Solid Tumor, Childhood

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 17 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for Children: * 6-17 years of age * Diagnosed with paediatric leukaemia or solid cancer in the past 12 months * Receiving anti-cancer treatment at one of the participating clinical site * Have age-appropriate speaking, reading and comprehension skills in either the German or the Czech language * Provide signed + informed consent from parents or legal representative and the assent form by all children from the age of 14 years. These documents had been evaluated positively by IEC. * Access to an internet connection and mobile device (e.g. smartphone or tablet) Inclusion Criteria for Parents: * Parent(s) with a child eligible for the study, as per the inclusion and exclusion-criteria * Ability to speak, read and understand German or Czech language * Provide signed informed consent by parent(s). These documents had been evaluated positively by IEC. * Access to an internet connection and mobile device (e.g. smartphone or tablet) Exclusion Criteria for Children: • Anyone who is not able to participate in the study according to the clinical judgment of the site chief investigator or any other authorized person of the research team. This judgment has to be documented for each child not being enrolled. Exclusion Criteria for Parents: • Anyone who is not able to participate in the study according to the clinical judgment of the site chief investigator or any other authorized person of the research team. This judgment has to be documented for each parent not being enrolled.

Locations (3)

University Hospital Brno

Brno, Mähren, Czechia

RECRUITING

Medical School Hannover

Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany

RECRUITING

Saarland University

Homburg, Saarland, Germany

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Recruitment rate, defined as percentage of patients eligible for the study from all patients who were screened for the study.

This contributes to the primary study objective: to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive, patient-centred service for palliative care and pediatric oncology by adapting and advancing ePRO systems. Further to identify differences between the participating clinical medical centers. This outcome measure also contributes to the secondary objective which is to determine the usage and evaluation of the MyPal apps including the gamified ePRO by children with cancer.

Time frame: Regularly each month in the course of 6-month course of study enrollment.

Participation rate, defined as percentage of recruited patients who completed at least 70% of the scheduled questionnaires for 6 months out of all patients eligible for the study

This contributes to the primary study objective: to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive, patient-centred service for palliative care in children with cancer by adapting and advancing ePRO systems. Further to identify differences between the participating clinical medical centers. This outcome measure also contributes to the secondary objective which is to determine the usage and evaluation of the MyPal apps including the gamified ePRO by children with cancer.

Time frame: Regularly each month in the course of 6-month course of study enrollment

Adherence rate to the different components of the MyPal services by documentation of user behavior and qualitative analysis

Time frame: Regularly each month in the course of 6-month course of study enrollment

Premature discontinuation rate, defined as percentage of recruited patients who have not been followed-up until the end of 6-month course of study enrollment (withdrawal, death or less than 70% completed questionnaires)

Time frame: Regularly each month in the course of 6-month course of study enrollment

System Usability Scale

Min Value: 0, Max Value: 100, higher scores indicate a better outcome. Quantitative data to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive, patient-centred service for palliative care in children with cancer by adapting and advancing ePRO systems. Further to identify differences between the participating clinical medical centers. This outcome measure also contributes to the secondary objective which is to determine the usage and evaluation of the MyPal apps including the gamified ePRO by children with cancer.

Time frame: At the end of the 6-month course of study enrollment

Structured Interviews and Focus Groups

Qualitative data to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive, patient-centred service for palliative care in children with cancer by adapting and advancing ePRO systems. Further to identify differences between the participating clinical medical centers. This outcome measure also contributes to the secondary objective which is to determine the usage and evaluation of the MyPal apps including the gamified ePRO by children with cancer.

Time frame: At the end of the 6-month course of study enrollment

Secondary Outcomes

Digital adaption of the Mini-SSpedi / SSPedi questionnaires as ePRO.

Min Value: 0, Max Value: 5, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. To assess children's symptom burden through an in-game ePRO and optionally as standalone ePRO which can be completed outside the serious game.Further, this contributes to the evidence-base of the effectiveness of ePROs in palliative and supportive care for children with cancer.

Time frame: Once at baseline and several times a week during the 6-month course of study enrollment. The frequency of single questions depends on severity of reported symptom burden.

PedsQL(TM) Cancer Module questionnaire as ePRO.

Min Value: 0, Max Value: 100, higher scores indicate a better outcome. To demonstrate the appropriateness and acceptability of measures of quality of life of children with cancer.

Time frame: Once at baseline and each month during the 6-month course of study enrollment.

EORTC PATSAT C-33 questionnaire, adapted appropriately as ePRO to consider parents' perception.

Min Value: 0, Max Value: 100, higher scores indicate a better outcome. To demonstrate the appropriateness and acceptability of measures of parents' satisfaction with cancer care, i.e. the parents' perception of the quality of medical and nursing care as well as the evaluation of the care's organization and the oncology department services. Furthermore to determine usage and evaluation of the MyPal apps including the gamified ePRO for children with cancer.

Time frame: Once at baseline and each month during the 6-month course of study enrollment.

Impact on Family Scale questionnaire as ePRO.

Higher scale scores indicate a worse outcome. To demonstrate the appropriateness and acceptability of measures of the impact of pediatric illness on the family, specifically with regards to financial impact, family-social impact and personal strain.

Time frame: Once at baseline and each month during the 6-month course of study enrollment.

EQ-5D-3L questionnaire as ePRO.

Min Value: 11111, Max Value: 33333, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. To demonstrate the appropriateness and acceptability of measures of parents' quality of life having children with cancer. It will be evaluated with regard to the five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.

Central Contacts

Norbert Graf, Professor MD

CONTACT

+49 68411628411 graf@uks.eu

Marcel Meyerheim, M.Sc.

CONTACT

+49 68411628045 marcel.meyerheim@uks.eu

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Time frame: Once at baseline and each month during the 6-month course of study enrollment.

Uniquely developed web-based online questionnaire.

Higher scores indicate a worse outcome. To determine the impact on health care professionals across Europe due to the integration of ePROs in palliative care by measuring strain parameters etc. caused by the usage of the service which is subject of the study. Furthermore, to contribute to the evidence-base of the effectiveness of ePROs for palliative care for children with cancer

Time frame: Once at the end of the overall course of the study or earlier given the case of changing study staff.