Telecare management of pain and depression in patients with cancer: patient satisfaction and predictors of use

Abstract

Pain and depression are 2 of the most common and disabling cancer-related symptoms. In the Indiana Cancer Pain and Depression trial, 202 cancer patients with pain and/or depression were randomized to the intervention group and received centralized telecare management augmented by automated symptom monitoring (ASM). Over the 12-month trial, the average patient completed 2 ASM reports and 1 nurse call per month. Satisfaction with both ASM and care management was high regardless of patient characteristics or cancer type. Adherence was also generally good, although several predictors of fewer ASM reports and nurse calls were identified. Only a minority of ASM reports triggered a nurse call, suggesting the efficiency of coupling clinician-delivered telecare management with automated monitoring.