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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Apr;27(2):e156-e162.
doi: 10.3747/co.27.5651. Epub 2020 May 1.

A randomized trial of the electronic Lung Cancer Symptom Scale for quality-of-life assessment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

J C Kuo  1   2 , D M Graham  1   3 , A Salvarrey  1 , F Kassam  1   4 , L W Le  1 , F A Shepherd  1 , R Burkes  5 , P J Hollen  6 , R J Gralla  7 , N B Leighl  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized trial of the electronic Lung Cancer Symptom Scale for quality-of-life assessment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

J C Kuo et al. Curr Oncol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: Improving health-related quality of life (hrqol) is a key goal of systemic therapy in advanced lung cancer, although routine assessment remains challenging. We analyzed the impact of a real-time electronic hrqol tool, the electronic Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (elcss-ql), on palliative care (pc) referral rates, patterns of chemotherapy treatment, and use of other supportive interventions in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) receiving first-line chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with advanced nsclc starting first-line chemotherapy were randomized to their oncologist receiving or not receiving their elcss-ql data before each clinic visit. Patients completed the elcss-ql at baseline, before each chemotherapy cycle, and at subsequent follow-up visits until disease progression. Prospective data about the pc referral rate, hrqol, and use of other supportive interventions were collected.

Results: For the 95 patients with advanced nsclc who participated, oncologists received real-time elcss-ql data for 44 (elcss-ql arm) and standard clinical assessment alone for 51 (standard arm). The primary endpoint, the pc referral rate, was numerically higher, but statistically similar, for patients in the elcss-ql and standard arms. The hrqol scores over time were not significantly different between the two study arms.

Conclusions: The elcss-ql is feasible as a tool for use in routine clinical practice, although no statistically significant effect of its use was demonstrated in our study. Improving access to supportive care through the collection of patient-reported outcomes and hrqol should be an important component of care for patients with advanced lung cancer.

Keywords: Patient-reported outcomes; palliative care; supportive care.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare that we have none.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
CONSORT diagram. eLCSS-QL = electronic Lung Cancer System Scale for quality-of-life assessment.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Patients awaiting palliative care (PC) referral by study arm. LCSS = electronic Lung Cancer System Scale for quality-of-life assessment.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) scores over time. eLCSS-QL = electronic Lung Cancer System Scale for quality-of-life assessment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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