Original Article
Feasibility and Acceptability to Patients of a Longitudinal System for Evaluating Cancer-Related Symptoms and Quality of Life: Pilot Study of an e/Tablet Data-Collection System in Academic Oncology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.07.011Get rights and content
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Abstract

Programmed, notebook-style, personal computers (“e/Tablets”) can collect symptom and quality-of-life (QOL) data at the point of care. Patients use an e/Tablet in the clinic waiting area to complete electronic surveys. Information then travels wirelessly to a server, which generates a real-time report for use during the clinical visit. The objective of this study was to determine whether academic oncology patients find e/Tablets logistically acceptable and a satisfactory means of communicating symptoms to providers during repeated clinic visits. Sixty-six metastatic breast cancer patients at Duke Breast Cancer Clinic participated. E/Tablets were customized to electronically administer a satisfaction/acceptability survey, several validated questionnaires, and the Patient Care Monitor (PCM) review of symptoms survey. At each of the four visits within six months, participants completed the patient satisfaction/acceptability survey, which furnished data for the current analysis. Participant demographics were: mean age of 54 years, 77% Caucasian, and 47% with less than a college education. Participants reported that e/Tablets were easy to read (94%), easy to navigate (99%), and had a comfortable weight (90%); they found it easy to respond to questions using the e/Tablet (98%). Seventy-five percent initially indicated satisfaction with PCM for reporting symptoms; this proportion increased over time. By the last visit, 88% of participants indicated that they would recommend the PCM to other patients; 74% felt that the e/Tablet helped them remember symptoms to report to their clinician. E/Tablets offered a feasible and acceptable method for collecting longitudinal patient-reported symptom and QOL data within an academic, tertiary care, breast cancer clinic.

Key Words

Neoplasms (MeSH)
quality of life (MeSH)
data collection (MeSH)
information systems (MeSH)
Patient Care Monitor

Cited by (0)

This study was funded through an Outcomes Research service agreement with Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer does not have access to individual data. SOS, Inc. served as vendor in this project, which provided the hardware. Duke University Medical Center provided the wireless system and associated technical support. Dr. Abernethy has a nominal consulting arrangement with SOS, Inc., developed after this study was completed.