Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study
Abstract Background Ovarian cancer patients require monitoring for relapse. Innovative follow-up methods are increasingly being explored. An electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) follow-up pathway was developed for women treated for ovarian cancer. This feasibility study explored patient accept...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09817-5 |
| _version_ | 1818488374146629632 |
|---|---|
| author | Fiona Kennedy Leanne Shearsmith Marie Holmes Zoe Rogers Rob Carter Uschi Hofmann Galina Velikova |
| author_facet | Fiona Kennedy Leanne Shearsmith Marie Holmes Zoe Rogers Rob Carter Uschi Hofmann Galina Velikova |
| author_sort | Fiona Kennedy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Ovarian cancer patients require monitoring for relapse. Innovative follow-up methods are increasingly being explored. An electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) follow-up pathway was developed for women treated for ovarian cancer. This feasibility study explored patient acceptability and compliance. Methods A single-arm non-blinded prospective feasibility study was undertaken at two hospitals. Participants were women who had completed treatment for ovarian cancer whose clinician was happy for them to be monitored remotely. Automated 3-monthly reminders were sent to participants to complete an ePRO questionnaire and obtain blood tests. Participants were reviewed over the phone by their clinical nurse specialist instead of attending clinic-based follow-up. The primary outcome was compliance (expected ePRO completions/blood tests) across the 12-month study period. Secondary outcomes were recruitment, attrition, resource use, symptom severity/alerts and patient acceptability. Results Twenty-four women consented (50% consent rate), and 13 remained on study at 12 months. Seven women relapsed, 3 chose to withdraw, and 1 withdrew for other clinical reasons. ePRO compliance was high and consistent at 75-82%, although the two hospitals differed. Adherence to the clinical protocol was evident for blood tests and contacts with staff (fewer visits, more phonecalls compared to an earlier audit). End-of-study feedback indicated high patient satisfaction. Conclusions Remote ePRO follow-up for ovarian cancer is feasible and acceptable to patients who are able and willing to participate. However, the low recruitment rate (ineligible + declined) indicate it is not suitable/acceptable to all patients immediately post-treatment. Further large-scale research and implementation work is required, especially in a post-COVID era. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02847715 (first registered 19/05/2016). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:50:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67b8a43f96e84171a486bc88759e9da0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:50:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-67b8a43f96e84171a486bc88759e9da02022-12-22T01:40:55ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072022-07-0122111510.1186/s12885-022-09817-5Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility studyFiona Kennedy0Leanne Shearsmith1Marie Holmes2Zoe Rogers3Rob Carter4Uschi Hofmann5Galina Velikova6Section of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsSection of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsSection of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsSection of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsSection of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsCalderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield Royal InfirmarySection of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Patient Reported Outcomes Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of LeedsAbstract Background Ovarian cancer patients require monitoring for relapse. Innovative follow-up methods are increasingly being explored. An electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) follow-up pathway was developed for women treated for ovarian cancer. This feasibility study explored patient acceptability and compliance. Methods A single-arm non-blinded prospective feasibility study was undertaken at two hospitals. Participants were women who had completed treatment for ovarian cancer whose clinician was happy for them to be monitored remotely. Automated 3-monthly reminders were sent to participants to complete an ePRO questionnaire and obtain blood tests. Participants were reviewed over the phone by their clinical nurse specialist instead of attending clinic-based follow-up. The primary outcome was compliance (expected ePRO completions/blood tests) across the 12-month study period. Secondary outcomes were recruitment, attrition, resource use, symptom severity/alerts and patient acceptability. Results Twenty-four women consented (50% consent rate), and 13 remained on study at 12 months. Seven women relapsed, 3 chose to withdraw, and 1 withdrew for other clinical reasons. ePRO compliance was high and consistent at 75-82%, although the two hospitals differed. Adherence to the clinical protocol was evident for blood tests and contacts with staff (fewer visits, more phonecalls compared to an earlier audit). End-of-study feedback indicated high patient satisfaction. Conclusions Remote ePRO follow-up for ovarian cancer is feasible and acceptable to patients who are able and willing to participate. However, the low recruitment rate (ineligible + declined) indicate it is not suitable/acceptable to all patients immediately post-treatment. Further large-scale research and implementation work is required, especially in a post-COVID era. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02847715 (first registered 19/05/2016).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09817-5Ovarian cancerFollow-upElectronic patient-reported outcomesFeasibility studyComplianceAcceptability |
| spellingShingle | Fiona Kennedy Leanne Shearsmith Marie Holmes Zoe Rogers Rob Carter Uschi Hofmann Galina Velikova Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study BMC Cancer Ovarian cancer Follow-up Electronic patient-reported outcomes Feasibility study Compliance Acceptability |
| title | Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study |
| title_full | Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study |
| title_short | Electronic patient-reported monitoring of symptoms during follow-up of ovarian cancer patients: a feasibility study |
| title_sort | electronic patient reported monitoring of symptoms during follow up of ovarian cancer patients a feasibility study |
| topic | Ovarian cancer Follow-up Electronic patient-reported outcomes Feasibility study Compliance Acceptability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09817-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fionakennedy electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT leanneshearsmith electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT marieholmes electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT zoerogers electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT robcarter electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT uschihofmann electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy AT galinavelikova electronicpatientreportedmonitoringofsymptomsduringfollowupofovariancancerpatientsafeasibilitystudy |