Digital Symptom Tracking, Patient Engagement and Quality of Life in Advanced Cancer

Overview

The purpose of this study is to (1) describe patient and clinician engagement in web-based symptom self-monitoring, (2) identify differences in symptom management between intervention and usual care groups, and (3) identify potential outcomes of real-time symptom tracking and management. With the assistance of the study coordinator, participants randomized to the intervention will create an account with Noona. Patients will be instructed to log symptoms as often as relevant using their own personal devices. Patients will also be prompted once per week for 24 weeks to log any recent symptoms. These participants will be sent a Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) via the Noona tool that summarizes their symptoms and distress one week prior to each oncology clinic visit. Symptoms designated as clinically severe either during regular symptom logging or via the SQ will trigger a prompt to contact the clinical team for immediate follow-up.

New patients from three cancer care programs (thoracic oncology, gastrointestinal oncology, and palliative care) at two academic institutions (Stanford and UCSF) will be screened for demographic and disease stage data within the patient medical record. Eligible patients will be asked by their oncology team whether they would be interested in participating a study of symptom management in oncology care. Patients who express interest and ability to participate will be interviewed to determine eligibility.

Conditions