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. 2016 Feb 18;1(2):115-121.
doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2016.02.001. eCollection 2016 Apr-Jun.

Use of mobile device technology to continuously collect patient-reported symptoms during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: A prospective feasibility study

Aaron D Falchook  1 , Gregg Tracton  1 , Lori Stravers  1 , Mary E Fleming  1 , Anna C Snavely  2 , Jeanne F Noe  2 , David N Hayes  2   3 , Juneko E Grilley-Olson  2   3 , Jared M Weiss  2   3 , Bryce B Reeve  4 , Ethan M Basch  2   3 , Bhishamjit S Chera  1   2
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Use of mobile device technology to continuously collect patient-reported symptoms during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: A prospective feasibility study

Aaron D Falchook et al. Adv Radiat Oncol. .

Abstract

Purpose: Accurate assessment of toxicity allows for timely delivery of supportive measures during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The current paradigm requires weekly evaluation of patients by a provider. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of monitoring patient reported symptoms via mobile devices.

Methods and materials: We developed a mobile application for patients to report symptoms in 5 domains using validated questions. Patients were asked to report symptoms using a mobile device once daily during treatment or more often as needed. Clinicians reviewed patient-reported symptoms during weekly symptom management visits and patients completed surveys regarding perceptions of the utility of the mobile application. The primary outcome measure was patient compliance with mobile device reporting. Compliance is defined as number of days with a symptom report divided by number of days on study.

Results: There were 921 symptom reports collected from 22 patients during treatment. Median reporting compliance was 71% (interquartile range, 45%-80%). Median number of reports submitted per patient was 34 (interquartile range, 21-53). Median number of reports submitted by patients per week was similar throughout radiation therapy and there was significant reporting during nonclinic hours. Patients reported high satisfaction with the use of mobile devices to report symptoms.

Conclusions: A substantial percentage of patients used mobile devices to continuously report symptoms throughout a course of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Future studies should evaluate the impact of mobile device symptom reporting on improving patient outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mobile application screenshots, showing the main screen (left) and survey screen (right) of the application.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Reporting compliance and number of reports submitted, per patient. Reporting compliance is defined as the number of days with any patient reported symptom divided by the number of days between study enrollment and the end of radiation therapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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