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Semerci R, Savaş EH, Kudubeş AA. Utilizing Digital Tools for Self-Report Symptom Assessment and Management in Pediatric Oncology: A Systematic Review. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 68:e417-e433. [PMID: 39059752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT The evaluation of digital tools for measuring self-reported symptoms in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment is a critical area of research with significant implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify, evaluate, and summarize evidence on digital tools that enable self-reported symptom assessment and management for pediatric oncology patients. METHODS Seven academic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Medline (OVID), were searched systematically from inception until February 28, 2024. Inclusion criteria were the following: (a) study subjects were pediatric oncology patients and young adults, (b) using digital tools, (c) self-report symptom assessment and management, (d) employed either qualitative or quantitative study design, (e) written in English (f) published in peer-reviewed journals. This is a systematic review, and its protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024528285). The study was conducted following the PRISMA statement. RESULTS Twenty-seven studies were included in this systematic review. All included studies were conducted to develop digital tools for assessing and managing the symptoms. Eight of these studies focused only on the pain; three were only for nausea and vomiting, one for nausea, and the other 15 for all symptoms. The studies' quality ranged from low to high, with overall scores ranging between 4 and 24 out of 28. CONCLUSION It shows that studies have generally focused on developing digital tools to address pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms commonly experienced by pediatric oncology patients. While the quality of the included studies ranged from low to high, the overall findings show promise for the effectiveness and usability of these digital tools for symptom assessment and management in pediatric oncology care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remziye Semerci
- School of Nursing (R.S., E.H.S.), Koç University, İstanbul, Turkey.
| | | | - Aslı Akdeniz Kudubeş
- Faculty of Health Sciences (A.A.K.), Department of Child Health and Diseases Nursing, Bilecik Şeyh Edabali University, Bilecik, Turkey
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Anthony SJ, Pol SJ, Selkirk EK, Matthiesen A, Klaassen RJ, Manase D, Silva A, Barwick M, Stinson JN, Damer A, Ayibiowu M, Dong SX, Oreskovich S, Brudno M. User-Centered Design and Usability of Voxe as a Pediatric Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Platform: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e57984. [PMID: 39298749 PMCID: PMC11450352 DOI: 10.2196/57984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) are standardized digital instruments integrated into clinical care to collect subjective data regarding patients' health-related quality of life, functional status, and symptoms. In documenting patient-reported progress, ePROMs can guide treatment decisions and encourage measurement-based care practices. Voxe is a pediatric and user-centered ePROM platform for patients with chronic health conditions. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe the user-centered design approach involving feedback from end users and usability testing of Voxe's platform features to support implementation in a pediatric health care setting. METHODS Purposive sampling was used to recruit patients aged 8-17 years from 2 chronic illness populations in 2 pediatric hospitals in Canada. Patients' health care team members were also purposively recruited. One-on-one iterative testing sessions were conducted digitally by research team members with participants to obtain feedback on the appearance and functionalities of the Voxe platform prototype. Patients and health care providers (HCPs) completed Voxe-related task-based activities. International Organization for Standardization key performance indicators were tracked during HCP task-based activities. HCPs also completed the System Usability Scale. To test platform usability, the think-aloud technique was used by participants during the completion of structured tasks. After completing all task-based activities, patient participants selected 5 words from the Microsoft Desirability Toolkit to describe their overall impression and experience with the Voxe platform. Qualitative data about likes, dislikes, and ease of use were collected through semistructured interviews. Feedback testing sessions were conducted with patients and HCPs until Voxe was acceptable to participating end users, with no further refinements identified. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis were completed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. RESULTS A total of 49 patients and 38 HCPs were recruited. Patients were positive about Voxe's child-centered design characteristics and notification settings. HCPs rated Voxe as user-friendly and efficient, with the time to complete tasks decreasing over time. HCPs were satisfied with the Voxe platform functionalities and identified the value of Voxe's system notifications, summarized display of ePROM results, and its capacity to integrate with electronic medical records. Patients' and HCPs' high satisfaction rates with the Voxe prototype highlight the importance of being responsive to user suggestions from the inception of eHealth platform developments to ensure their efficient and effective design. CONCLUSIONS This paper describes the user-centered creation and usability testing of Voxe as an ePROM platform for implementation into clinical care for pediatric patients with chronic health conditions. As a patient-facing platform that can be integrated into electronic medical records, Voxe aligns with measurement-based care practices to foster quality patient-centered approaches to care. End users' positive feedback and evaluation of the platform's user-friendliness and efficiency suggest that Voxe represents a valuable and promising solution to systematically integrate patient-related outcome (PRO) data into complex and dynamic clinical health care settings. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053119.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Anthony
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah J Pol
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Enid K Selkirk
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amarens Matthiesen
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert J Klaassen
- Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Clinic, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dorin Manase
- The Data Aggregation, Translation and Architecture (DATA) Team, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Silva
- The Data Aggregation, Translation and Architecture (DATA) Team, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Melanie Barwick
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer N Stinson
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Lawrence S Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alameen Damer
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mowa Ayibiowu
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Selina X Dong
- Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Clinic, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stephan Oreskovich
- Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Clinic, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Brudno
- The Data Aggregation, Translation and Architecture (DATA) Team, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Hetzer B, Meryk A, Kropshofer G, Salvador C, Riedl D, Lehmann J, Rumpold G, Haid A, Schneeberger-Carta V, Holzner B, Crazzolara R. Integration of Daily Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation. Transplant Cell Ther 2023; 29:776.e1-776.e7. [PMID: 37741458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Patients' reports of their health status are increasingly used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) to better understand the negative impact on symptom burden and quality of life. Little is known regarding the implementation in routine clinical care, particularly how it can be used to improve supportive care. We sought to the evaluate feasibility of capturing daily patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the acute phase of SCT to measure physical and psychosocial symptom burden. In this single-center prospective observational study, we assessed daily PRO from conditioning to neutrophil engraftment in children (age 1 to 18 year) who underwent allogeneic or autologous SCT for malignant and nonmalignant disease. The most common acute adverse effects of chemotherapy (pain, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, and physical performance impairment) were reported daily via ePROtect, a web-based program designed to integrate health responses. From February 2021 to March 2023, 20 children undergoing allogeneic (allo-) SCT (n = 11) or autologous (auto-) SCT (n = 9) and their proxies consented to participation, all of whom were included in this analysis. A total of 359 PRO questionnaires were completed, corresponding to a median daily completion rate of 72.7% (interquartile range, 60.4% to 83.6%). After conditioning, pain perception anticipated the rise of infectious parameters and the development of mucositis, thus initiating supportive treatment. Patients reported the strongest symptom burden at a median of 8.5 days post-transplantation. At 4 weeks post-transplantation, baseline values were restored for all symptoms. There were no significant differences between auto-SCT and allo-SCT, except for nausea and loss of appetite after administration of antithymocyte globulin in allo-SCT. This study empirically documents the daily health status of children undergoing SCT and proposes an attractive modus operandi on how continuous feedback on health-related symptoms can be integrated into daily clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hetzer
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Meryk
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriele Kropshofer
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christina Salvador
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Riedl
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jens Lehmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Rumpold
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Haid
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Holzner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roman Crazzolara
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Moorthy P, Weinert L, Harms BC, Anders C, Siegel F. German Version of the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire in a Cohort of Patients With Cancer: Translation and Validation Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e51090. [PMID: 37910144 PMCID: PMC10652191 DOI: 10.2196/51090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Good usability is important for the adoption and continued use of mobile health (mHealth) apps. In particular, high usability can support intuitive use by patients, which improves compliance and increases the app's effectiveness. However, many usability studies do not use adequate tools to measure perceived usability. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) was developed specifically for end users in a medical context. MAUQ is a relatively new but increasingly used questionnaire to evaluate mHealth apps, but it is not yet available in German. OBJECTIVE This study aims to translate MAUQ into German and determine its internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. METHODS This validation study was conducted as part of a usability evaluation project for an mHealth app used as a therapy support tool during breast cancer chemotherapy. MAUQ was translated into German through a rigorous forward-backward translation process, ensuring semantic and conceptual equivalence. Patient responses to MAUQ and System Usability Scale (SUS) were analyzed for validation. Descriptive analysis was performed for the MAUQ subscales and SUS standard scores. Significance tests and correlation coefficients assessed the relationship between the SUS and MAUQ results, confirming construct validity. Internal consistency was assessed for item reliability and consistency in measuring the target construct. Free-text questions assessed translation comprehensibility, with responses analyzed descriptively and qualitatively using content analysis. RESULTS In this study, 133 participants responded to the questionnaire, and the validation analysis showed substantially positive correlations between the overall MAUQ score and its subscales: ease of use (r=0.56), interface and satisfaction (r=0.75), and usefulness (r=0.83). These findings support the construct validity of MAUQ and emphasize the importance of these subscales in assessing the usability of the Enable app. The correlation coefficients ranging from 0.39 to 0.68 for the items further validate the questionnaire by aligning with the overall score and capturing the intended concept. The high internal consistency reliability of MAUQ (Cronbach α=.81) and its subscales further enhances the instrument's robustness in accurately evaluating the usability of mHealth apps. CONCLUSIONS We successfully validated the German translation of the MAUQ for stand-alone apps using a standardized approach in a cohort of patients with breast cancer. In our validation study, MAUQ exhibited strong internal consistency reliability (Cronbach α=.81) across its subscales, indicating reliable and consistent measurement. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation (P<.001) was found between the subscales and the overall score, supporting their consistent measurement of the intended construct. Therefore, MAUQ can be considered a reliable instrument for assessing the usability of mHealth apps among German-speaking adults. The availability of the German version of MAUQ will help other researchers in conducting usability studies of mHealth apps in German-speaking cohorts and allow for international comparability of their results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preetha Moorthy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lina Weinert
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Section for Translational Health Economics, Department for Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bendix Christian Harms
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carolin Anders
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Siegel
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Holmen H, Winger A, Steindal SA, Riiser K, Castor C, Kvarme LG, Mariussen KL, Lee A. Patient-reported outcome measures in children, adolescents, and young adults with palliative care needs-a scoping review. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:148. [PMID: 37798706 PMCID: PMC10557323 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01271-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measuring outcomes facilitates evaluation of palliative services for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) with life-limiting and/or life-threatening (LL/LT) conditions. Implementation of patient-reported, proxy-reported, or patient-centered outcome measures (hereafter PROMs) is recommended to ensure palliative services. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of PROMs relevant for CAYAs living with LL/LT conditions eligible for pediatric palliative care (PPC). METHODS Arksey and O'Malley's 6-stage scoping review framework was used to guide the review. The identified citations had to report on PROMs in any context including CAYAs with LL/LT conditions up to 25 years of age. A systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, and AMED took place in January 2021 and was updated in June 2022. Citations were screened independently by pairs of researchers. The scoping review protocol was registered, and peer-review published. RESULTS Of 3690 identified citations, 98 reports were included, of which the majority were from Western countries and about PROMs in CAYAs living with cancer or organ failure. A total of 80 PROMs were identified, assessing a range of phenomena, where quality of life and symptoms (especially pain) during the stage of ongoing care were the most frequent. There were only a few reports about outcome measures at time of diagnosis or in end-of-life care. CAYAs self-reported on the PROMs or collaborated with their parents in about half of the reports, while the remaining had proxies answering on behalf of the CAYAs. In the identified reports, PROMs were used to characterize a sample through cross-sectional or longitudinal research, and less often to assess effects of interventions. CONCLUSION The identified PROMs in the CAYA population eligible for PPC is characterized by studies in high-income countries during ongoing care, primarily in patients with cancer or organ failure. More research is needed in patients living with other LL/LT conditions, and during different stages of the disease course, especially at time of diagnosis, during transition to adulthood, and in end-of-life care. This scoping review of PROMs relevant for young patients eligible for PPC may inform future research about patient-/proxy-reported or patient-centered outcome measures in PPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION Review registration: ( https://osf.io/yfch2/ ) and published protocol (Holmen et al. Syst Rev. 10:237, 2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Holmen
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, St. Olavs Place, Post Box 4, 0130, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anette Winger
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, St. Olavs Place, Post Box 4, 0130, Oslo, Norway
| | - Simen A Steindal
- Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggt, 15B, 0456, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirsti Riiser
- Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, Oslo Metropolitan University, St. Olavs Place, Post Box 4, 0130, Oslo, Norway
| | - Charlotte Castor
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lisbeth Gravdal Kvarme
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, St. Olavs Place, Post Box 4, 0130, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kari L Mariussen
- Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggt, 15B, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anja Lee
- Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Nydalen, Box 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway
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Riedl D, Lehmann J, Rothmund M, Dejaco D, Grote V, Fischer MJ, Rumpold G, Holzner B, Licht T. Usability of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Older Patients With Cancer: Secondary Analysis of Data from an Observational Single Center Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e49476. [PMID: 37733409 PMCID: PMC10557001 DOI: 10.2196/49476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient-reported outcomes are considered the gold standard for assessing subjective health status in oncology patients. Electronic assessment of patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) has become increasingly popular in recent years in both clinical trials and practice. However, there is limited evidence on how well older patients with cancer can complete ePRO assessments. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate how well adult patients with cancer of different age ranges could complete ePRO assessments at home and in a treatment facility and to identify factors associated with the ability to complete questionnaires electronically. METHODS This retrospective longitudinal single-center study involved survivors of cancer who participated in inpatient rehabilitation. Patients completed ePRO assessments before rehabilitation at home (T1) and after rehabilitation at the facility (T2). We analyzed the rate of patients who could complete the ePRO assessment at T1 and T2, the proportion of patients who required assistance, and the time it took patients to complete standardized questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of ePRO completion rate and the need for assistance. RESULTS Between 2017 and 2022, a total of 5571 patients were included in this study. Patients had a mean age of 60.3 (SD 12.2) years (range 18 to 93 years), and 1135 (20.3%) of them were classified as geriatric patients (>70 years). While more than 90% (5060/5571) of all patients completed the ePRO assessment, fewer patients in the age group of >70 years (924/1135, 81.4% at T1 vs 963/1135, 84.8% at T2) completed the assessment. Approximately 19% (1056/5571) of patients reported a need for assistance with the ePRO assessment at home, compared to 6.8% (304/4483) at the institution. Patients older than 70 years had a significantly higher need for assistance than those in younger age groups. Moreover, a gender difference was observed, with older women reporting a higher need for assistance than men (71-80 years: women requiring assistance 215/482, 44.6% vs men 96/350, 27.4%; P<.001 and >80 years: women 102/141, 72.3% vs men 57/112, 50.9%; P<.001). On average, patients needed 4.9 (SD 3.20) minutes to remotely complete a 30-item questionnaire (European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) and patients in the older age groups took significantly longer compared to younger age groups. Lower age and higher physical functioning were the clearest predictors for both the ePRO completion rate and the need for assistance in the multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS This study's results indicate that ePRO assessment is feasible in older individuals with cancer, but older patients may require assistance (eg, from relatives) to complete home-based assessments. It may be more feasible to conduct assessments in-house in this population. Additionally, it is crucial to carefully consider which resources are necessary and available to support patients in using ePRO devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Riedl
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
- University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jens Lehmann
- University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Rothmund
- University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniel Dejaco
- Department for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Vincent Grote
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael J Fischer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
- Vamed Rehabilitation Center Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria
| | - Gerhard Rumpold
- University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Evaluation Software Development (ESD), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernhard Holzner
- Evaluation Software Development (ESD), Innsbruck, Austria
- University Hospital of Psychiatry I, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Licht
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
- Oncological Rehabilitation Center, Sankt Veit im Pongau, Austria
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Gale V, Carlton J. Including Young Children in the Development and Testing of Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) Instruments: A Scoping Review of Children's Involvement and Qualitative Methods. THE PATIENT 2023; 16:425-456. [PMID: 37402059 DOI: 10.1007/s40271-023-00637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Qualitative research during the development/testing of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) is recommended to support content validity. However, it is unclear if and how young children (≤ 7 years) can be involved in this research because of their unique cognitive needs. OBJECTIVES Here we investigate the involvement of children (≤ 7 years) in qualitative research for PROM development/testing. This review aimed to identify (1) which stages of qualitative PROM development children ≤ 7 years had been involved in, (2) which subjective health concepts had been explored within qualitative PROM development with this age group, and (3) which qualitative methods had been reported and how these compared with existing methodological recommendations. METHODS This scoping review systematically searched three electronic databases (searches re-run prior to final analysis on 29 June 2022) with no date restrictions. Included studies had samples of at least 75% aged ≤ 7 years or reported distinct qualitative methods for children ≤ 7 years in primary qualitative research to support concept elicitation or PROM development/testing. Articles not in English and PROMs that did not enable children ≤ 7 years to self-report were excluded. Data on study type, subjective health and qualitative methods were extracted and synthesised descriptively. Methods were compared with recommendations from guidance. RESULTS Of 19 included studies, 15 reported concept elicitation research and 4 reported cognitive interviewing. Most explored quality of life (QoL)/health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Some concept elicitation studies reported that creative/participatory activities had supported children's engagement, but results and reporting detail varied considerably across studies. Cognitive interviewing studies reported less methodological detail and fewer methods adapted for young children compared with concept elicitation studies. They were limited in scope regarding assessments of content validity, mostly focussing on clarity while relevance and comprehensiveness were explored less. DISCUSSION Creative/participatory activities may be beneficial in concept elicitation research with children ≤ 7 years, but future research needs to explore what contributes to the success of young children's involvement and how researchers can adopt flexible methods. Cognitive interviews with young children are limited in frequency, scope and reported methodological detail, potentially impacting PROM content validity for this age group. Without detailed reporting, it is not possible to determine the feasibility and usefulness of children's (≤ 7 years) involvement in qualitative research to support PROM development and assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Gale
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Jill Carlton
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Mortezaei S, Rabiei R, Asadi F, Emami H. Development and usability evaluation of a mHealth application for albinism self-management. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2023; 23:106. [PMID: 37312174 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02202-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced or absence of melanin poses physical, social, and psychological challenges to individuals with albinism. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have the potential to improve the accessibility of information and services while reducing time and costs. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a mHealth application for self-management of albinism. METHODS This applied study was conducted in two stages (development and evaluation) in 2022. Initially, the functional requirements were determined, and the conceptual model of the application was then developed using Microsoft Visio 2021. In the second phase, the application was evaluated using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) involving patients with albinism to reflect their views on the usability of the application. RESULTS The key capabilities of the application included: reminders, alerts, educational content, useful links, storage and exchange of images of skin lesions, specialist finder, and notifications for albinism-relevant events. Twenty-one users with albinism participated in the usability testing of the application. The users were predominantly satisfied with the application (5.53 ± 1.10; Max: 7.00). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study suggest that the developed mobile application could assist individuals with albinism to effectively manage their condition by considering the users' requirements and services that the application should deliver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Mortezaei
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Rabiei
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farkhondeh Asadi
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Emami
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Meryk A, Kropshofer G, Hetzer B, Riedl D, Lehmann J, Rumpold G, Haid A, Schneeberger-Carta V, Salvador C, Rabensteiner E, Rothmund MS, Holzner B, Crazzolara R. Disagreement between mothers' and fathers' rating of health-related quality of life in children with cancer. Qual Life Res 2023; 32:1683-1691. [PMID: 36635414 PMCID: PMC9836339 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03341-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Serial assessment of health condition based on self-report made by children and their proxies has consistently shown a lack of congruence. The study explored the discrepancies between mother's, father's, and children's reports on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the first two months of pediatric cancer treatment. METHODS In this cohort study, children and parents completed the generic and cancer-specific Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires at initial diagnosis and in the subsequent months. Evaluation of discrepancies included intraclass correlations between mother-child and father-child dyads at different domain levels. RESULTS Thirty-six children with a diagnosis of cancer between May 2020 and November 2021 and their parents were included in this study. At diagnosis, mother-child dyads showed better agreement on more domains of the PedsQL Generic Core Scale than father-child dyads; moderate agreement persisted for both parents at subsequent time points on the physical domain. The disease-specific PedsQL Cancer Module revealed moderate and better agreement for mother-child dyads during active cancer therapy. In particular, agreement of mother-child dyads was pronounced for domains such as worry (0.77 [95% CI 0.52-0.89, P < 0.001]), whereas fathers tended to overestimate the child's symptom burden for most of the remaining domains of the PedsQL Cancer Module. CONCLUSION This cohort study shows that both parent proxy reports can provide valid information on child's HRQOL, but that fathers tend to overestimate, particularly for non-observable domains. Proxy reports derived from mothers more closely agreed with children's HRQOL and might be more weighted, if there is uncertainty between parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Meryk
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriele Kropshofer
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Benjamin Hetzer
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Riedl
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann, Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jens Lehmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Rumpold
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Haid
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Schneeberger-Carta
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christina Salvador
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Evelyn Rabensteiner
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria-Sophie Rothmund
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernhard Holzner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roman Crazzolara
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Podpeskar A, Crazzolara R, Kropshofer G, Obexer P, Rabensteiner E, Michel M, Salvador C. Supportive methods for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia then and now: A compilation for clinical practice. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:980234. [PMID: 36172391 PMCID: PMC9510731 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.980234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia has significantly improved over the past decades. In the early years of chemotherapeutic development, improvement in survival rates could be attained only by increasing the cytostatic dose, also by modulation of the frequency and combination of chemotherapeutic agents associated with severe short- and long-time side-effects and toxicity in a developing child's organism. Years later, new treatment options have yielded promising results through targeted immune and molecular drugs, especially in relapsed and refractory leukemia, and are continuously added to conventional therapy or even replace first-line treatment. Compared to conventional strategies, these new therapies have different side-effects, requiring special supportive measures. Supportive treatment includes the prevention of serious acute and sometimes life-threatening events as well as managing therapy-related long-term side-effects and preemptive treatment of complications and is thus mandatory for successful oncological therapy. Inadequate supportive therapy is still one of the main causes of treatment failure, mortality, poor quality of life, and unsatisfactory long-term outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. But nowadays it is a challenge to find a way through the flood of supportive recommendations and guidelines that are available in the literature. Furthermore, the development of new therapies for childhood leukemia has changed the range of supportive methods and must be observed in addition to conventional recommendations. This review aims to provide a clear and recent compilation of the most important supportive methods in the field of childhood leukemia, based on conventional regimes as well as the most promising new therapeutic approaches to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Podpeskar
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roman Crazzolara
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriele Kropshofer
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Petra Obexer
- Department of Pediatrics II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Evelyn Rabensteiner
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miriam Michel
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics III, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christina Salvador
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Can We Compare the Health-Related Quality of Life of Childhood Cancer Survivors Following Photon and Proton Radiation Therapy? A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163937. [PMID: 36010929 PMCID: PMC9405962 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Proton radiation therapy is a radiation oncology innovation expected to produce superior health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes for children with cancer, compared to conventional photon radiation therapy. The review aim is to identify if clinical evidence exists to support the anticipated HRQoL improvements for children receiving proton radiation therapy. HRQoL outcomes of 1986 childhood cancer survivors are described. There is insufficient quality evidence to compare HRQoL outcomes between proton and photon radiation therapy. Therefore, the current state of the literature does not conclude that proton radiation therapy produces superior HRQoL outcomes for childhood cancer survivors. Despite recommendations, no evidence of routine HRQoL assessment using patient-reported outcomes in paediatric radiation oncology are identified. Further rigorous collection and reporting of HRQoL data is essential to improve patient outcomes, and to adequately compare HRQoL between radiation therapy modalities. Abstract Paediatric cancer patients have a risk of late side effects after curative treatment. Proton radiation therapy (PRT) has the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of toxicities produced by conventional photon radiation therapy (XRT), which may improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children. This systematic review aimed to identify the evidence of HRQoL outcomes in childhood cancer survivors following XRT and PRT. Medline, Embase, and Scopus were systematically searched. Thirty studies were analysed, which described outcomes of 1986 childhood cancer survivors. Most studies (n = 24) described outcomes for children with a central nervous system (CNS) tumour, four studies reported outcomes for children with a non-CNS tumour, and two studies combined CNS and non-CNS diagnoses within a single cohort. No studies analysed routine HRQoL collection during paediatric radiation oncology clinical practice. There is insufficient quality evidence to compare HRQoL outcomes between XRT and PRT. Therefore, the current state of the literature does not conclude that PRT produces superior HRQoL outcomes for childhood cancer survivors. Standardised clinical implementation of HRQoL assessment using patient-reported outcomes is recommended to contribute to improvements in clinical care whilst assisting the progression of knowledge comparing XRT and PRT.
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Garani-Papadatos T, Natsiavas P, Meyerheim M, Hoffmann S, Karamanidou C, Payne SA. Ethical Principles in Digital Palliative Care for Children: The MyPal Project and Experiences Made in Designing a Trustworthy Approach. Front Digit Health 2022; 4:730430. [PMID: 35373180 PMCID: PMC8971573 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.730430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper explores the ethical dimension of the opportunity to offer improved electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems addressing personal needs of pediatric cancer patients, their parents and caregivers, with regard to technological advance of digital health. This opportunity has been explored in the MyPal research project, which aims to assess a patient-centered service for palliative care relying on the adaptation and extension of digital health tools and concepts available from previous projects. Development and implementation of ePROs need to take place in a safe, secure and responsible manner, preventing any possible harm and safeguarding the integrity of humans. To that end, although the final results will be published at the end of the project, this paper aims to increase awareness of the ethical ramifications we had to address in the design and testing of new technologies and to show the essentiality of protection and promotion of privacy, safety and ethical standards. We have thus reached a final design complying with the following principles: (a) respect for the autonomy of participants, especially children, (b) data protection and transparency, (c) fairness and non-discrimination, (d) individual wellbeing of participants in relation to their physical and psychological health status and e) accessibility and acceptability of digital health technologies for better user-engagement. These principles are adapted from the Ethics Guidelines for a trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) which provide the framework for similar interventions to be lawful, complying with all applicable laws and regulations, ethical, ensuring compliance to ethical principles and values and robust, both from a technical and social perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Garani-Papadatos
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Marcel Meyerheim
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Hoffmann
- Serious Games Solutions, a Division of Promotion Software GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | - Sheila A Payne
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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13
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Anderson PM, Thomas SM, Sartoski S, Scott JG, Sobilo K, Bewley S, Salvador LK, Salazar-Abshire M. Strategies to Mitigate Chemotherapy and Radiation Toxicities That Affect Eating. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13124397. [PMID: 34959948 PMCID: PMC8706251 DOI: 10.3390/nu13124397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer and its therapy is commonly associated with a variety of side effects that impact eating behaviors that reduce nutritional intake. This review will outline potential causes of chemotherapy and radiation damage as well as approaches for the amelioration of the side effects of cancer during therapy. Methods: Information for clinicians, patients, and their caregivers about toxicity mitigation including nausea reduction, damage to epithelial structures such as skin and mucosa, organ toxicity, and education is reviewed. Results: How to anticipate, reduce, and prevent some toxicities encountered during chemotherapy and radiation is detailed with the goal to improve eating behaviors. Strategies for health care professionals, caregivers, and patients to consider include (a) the reduction in nausea and vomiting, (b) decreasing damage to the mucosa, (c) avoiding a catabolic state and muscle wasting (sarcopenia), and (d) developing therapeutic alliances with patients, caregivers, and oncologists. Conclusions: Although the reduction of side effects involves anticipatory guidance and proactive team effort (e.g., forward observation, electronic interactions, patient reported outcomes), toxicity reduction can be satisfying for not only the patient, but everyone involved in cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M. Anderson
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (S.M.T.); (S.S.); (K.S.); (S.B.)
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +216-445-7140 or +216-308-2706
| | - Stefanie M. Thomas
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (S.M.T.); (S.S.); (K.S.); (S.B.)
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
| | - Shauna Sartoski
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (S.M.T.); (S.S.); (K.S.); (S.B.)
- Department of Nursing, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jacob G. Scott
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kaitlin Sobilo
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (S.M.T.); (S.S.); (K.S.); (S.B.)
- Department of Nursing, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Sara Bewley
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (S.M.T.); (S.S.); (K.S.); (S.B.)
- Peds Nutritional Services, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Laura K. Salvador
- Department of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.K.S.); (M.S.-A.)
| | - Maritza Salazar-Abshire
- Department of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.K.S.); (M.S.-A.)
- Department of Nursing Education, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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14
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Meyerheim M, Burns-Gebhart A, Mirzaie K, Garani-Papadatos T, Braun Y, Graf N. Challenges and Pitfalls for Implementing Digital Health Solutions in Clinical Studies in Europe. Front Digit Health 2021; 3:730680. [PMID: 34713200 PMCID: PMC8521796 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.730680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of digital solutions developed for use in clinical health care settings is accompanied by new challenges to develop and conduct clinical studies that include eHealth technologies. Clinical study implementation plans often disregard or underestimate the necessity of additional administrative and logistic tasks required at clinical sites as well as ethical aspects to test digital solutions. Experiences made in the run-up of an observational clinical feasibility study at three international clinical sites in the framework of the MyPal project (https://mypal-project.eu/) result in recommendations to avoid delays and barriers in the planning of such prospective studies in clinical and also palliative care for increased efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Meyerheim
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Anna Burns-Gebhart
- Clinic for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kasra Mirzaie
- Clinic for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tina Garani-Papadatos
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Yvonne Braun
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Graf
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
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