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Smarter symptom management for children with cancer: development and evaluation plans of a smartphone app to monitor patient-reported outcome measures (RESPONSE)
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  • Natalie Bradford,
  • Penelope Slater,
  • Philippa Fielden,
  • Matthew Douglas,
  • Claire Radford,
  • Amanda Carter,
  • Paula Condon,
  • Rick Walker,
  • Ashraf Badat,
  • Brooke Spencer,
  • Rachel Edwards,
  • Erin Pitt,
  • Anthony Herbert
Natalie Bradford
Queensland University of Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Penelope Slater
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Philippa Fielden
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Matthew Douglas
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Claire Radford
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Amanda Carter
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Paula Condon
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Rick Walker
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Ashraf Badat
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Brooke Spencer
Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Rachel Edwards
Queensland University of Technology
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Erin Pitt
Queensland University of Technology
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Anthony Herbert
Queensland University of Technology
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Abstract

Background Symptoms and associated distress in children diagnosed and treated for cancer are uniformly common, yet structured and systematic symptom monitoring is not yet commonplace. With increasing pressures on the healthcare workforce, improved systematic approaches to symptom management are required. Methods Medical, nursing and allied health oncology clinicians developed algorithms using consensus techniques to ascertain thresholds of concern for each symptom for the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics (SPPedi) tool, a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM). Algorithm vetting and refinement were achieved through iterative interviews and consultation with clinicians. Self-management evidence-based recommendations for each symptom were developed. The algorithms were incorporated into an existing smartphone application (MyQCH), as part of the Oncology Hub, and an iterative evaluation is planned to test the feasibility, acceptability, safety, usefulness, and other domains including a hybrid effectiveness trial (ACTRN12621001084875). Discussion Digital solutions provide alternative options for communication, information, and education and opportunities to harness the best of community and hospital services. The Oncology Hub and RESPONSE system is a comprehensive approach to symptom management that includes a suite of tools and resources including a smartphone app that collects PROMs and delivers symptom management advice, as well as written resources for both the families of children with cancer and clinicians. Conclusions Using technology offers new ways to think about how clinicians and families communicate and share information. Understanding how information is exchanged using technology, and how this impacts clinical workflow is critical to successful implementation, and to ultimately optimise symptom assessment management in children with cancer.