Evaluation of electronic patient-reported outcome assessment with cancer patients in the hospital and at home

Abstract

BackgroundPatient-reported outcomes (PRO) provide a more comprehensive picture of patients’ quality of life than do mere physicians’ ratings. Electronic data collection of PRO offers several advantages and allows assessments at patients’ homes as well. This study reports on patients’ personal internet use, their attitudes towards electronic and web-based PRO assessment (clinic-ePRO and home-ePRO) and the feasibility of these two assessment modes.MethodsAt the Medical University of Innsbruck and Kufstein County Hospital, cancer patients who participated in clinic-ePRO/home-ePRO were asked to complete a comprehensive evaluation form on their personal internet usage, attitudes towards and the feasibility of routine clinic-ePRO/home-ePRO with the Computer-based Health Evaluation System (CHES) software.ResultsIn total, 113 patients completed the evaluation form for clinic-ePRO (Ø 45 years, SD 14) and 45 patients for home-ePRO (Ø 58 years, SD 10; 33.1 per cent inclusion rate for this sample). Most patients expressed willingness to complete routine clinic-ePRO assessments in the future (94.7 per cent of clinic-ePRO patients and 84.4 per cent of home-ePRO patients) and to discuss their data with attending physicians (82.2 per cent, home-ePRO patients only). Overall, patients preferred the software over paper-pencil questionnaires (67.2 per cent of clinic-ePRO patients and 60 per cent of home-ePRO patients) and experienced it as easy to use. Only a few minor suggestions for improvement were made (e.g. adjustable font sizes).ConclusionsThe use of clinic-ePRO/home-ePRO was in general shown to be feasible and well accepted. However, to be more inclusive in the implementation of clinic-ePRO/home-ePRO, educational programs concerning their particular benefit in oncology practice potentially could enhance patients’ attitudes towards, and consequently their acceptance of and compliance with electronic PRO assessments.

Praktikabilität und Leistungsfähigkeit von E-Health-Anwendungen bei der Erhebung von Patient-Reported Outcomes: Forschungsstand und -bedarf

“…B. [35,36]), ohne die vielfältigen die Nutzenbereitschaft beeinflussenden Faktoren (bezogen z. B. auf die HRQoL, die krankheits-oder therapiebezogenen Belastungen, soziodemografische Faktoren, Technikvorerfahrungen oder die Bereitschaft zur Nutzung) zu berücksichtigen [31,32].…”

“…Auch die technischen Herausforderungen sind bisher kaum erforscht, da in vielen Studien lediglich selbstentwickelte ePRO-Instrumente erprobt und evaluiert werden (z. B [36]…”

Patient Use of Electronic Methods to Self-Report Symptoms: An Integrative Literature Review

“…PALM: In the Blum et al (2014) study, 49% of the 84 participants preferred the PALM (handheld computer) to the paper-based assessment. Several studies reported high patient acceptability and feasibility regarding the electronic assessment of symptoms (Abernethy et al, 2008;Andikyan et al, 2012;Basch et al, 2007;Blum et al, 2014;Chan et al, 2011;Falchook et al, 2016;Wintner et al, 2015;Wolpin et al, 2008;Wu et al, 2016). Three studies (Head et al, 2009;Mirkovic, Kaufman, & Ruland, 2014;Ruland, Maffei, et al, 2013) considered the usability and usefulness of a device from the patient's perspective.…”

Praktikabilität und Leistungsfähigkeit von E-Health-Anwendungen bei der Erhebung von Patient Reported Outcomes: Forschungsstand und -bedarf

“…B. 35,36], ohne die viel fältigen die Nutzenbereitschaft beeinflussenden Faktoren (bezo gen z. B. auf die HRQoL, die krankheits oder therapiebezogenen Belastungen, soziodemografische Faktoren, Technikvorerfahrun gen, oder die Bereitschaft zur Nutzung) zu berücksichtigen [31,32].…”