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Schunn FA, El Shafie RA, Kronsteiner D, Sauer LD, Kudak A, Bougatf N, Oetzel D, Krämer A, Regnery S, Machmer T, Debus J, Nicolay NH. Oncologic treatment support via a dedicated mobile app: a prospective feasibility evaluation (OPTIMISE-1). Strahlenther Onkol 2024; 200:475-486. [PMID: 37947806 PMCID: PMC11111550 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02166-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile health (mhealth) is gaining interest, with mobile devices and apps being ever more available among medical facilities and patients. However, in the field of radiation oncology, the medical benefits of mhealth apps are still underexplored. As an additional approach to patient care during radiotherapy, we designed a mobile treatment surveillance app based on patient-reported outcomes. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the feasibility of app-based treatment surveillance in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Alongside technical practicability and acceptance, we assessed patient satisfaction and quality of life during treatment. METHODS This prospective single-center study was performed at Heidelberg University Hospital between August 2018 and January 2020. During RT we measured patients' quality of life, symptoms, and treatment satisfaction. Respective questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 with diagnosis-specific modules, RAND PSQ-18) were presented to patients via a mobile app running on a designated tablet device. The primary endpoint was determined by the fraction of patients who completed at least 80% of the items. Secondary endpoints were disease-related quality of life and patient satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 49 cancer patients (14 breast, 13 pelvic, 12 lung, 10 prostate) were eligible for analysis. 79.6% (95% confidence interval: 66.4-88.5%; n = 39) of all patients completed at least 80% of the items received by the mobile app. A mean of 227.5 ± 48.25 questions were answered per patient. Breast cancer patients showed the highest rate of answered questions, with 92.9% (n = 13) completing at least 80% of the items. CONCLUSION Patients showed high acceptance, with 79.6% (n = 39) completing at least 80% of the given items. The use of a mobile app for reporting symptoms and quality of life during RT is feasible and well accepted by patients. It may allow for resource-efficient, detailed feedback to the medical staff and assist in the assessment of side effects over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian A Schunn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rami A El Shafie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Göttingen University Hospital, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dorothea Kronsteiner
- Institute for Medical Biometry (IMBI), Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas D Sauer
- Institute for Medical Biometry (IMBI), Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kudak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Bougatf
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dieter Oetzel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Krämer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Regnery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Debus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils Henrik Nicolay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 3, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, German Cancer Research Center (dkfz), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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Janssen S, El Shafie RA, Grohmann M, Knippen S, Putora PM, Beck M, Baehr A, Clemens P, Stefanowicz S, Rades D, Becker JN, Fahlbusch FB. Survey in radiation oncology departments in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: state of digitalization by 2023. Strahlenther Onkol 2024; 200:497-506. [PMID: 38052968 PMCID: PMC11111513 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02182-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this work was to assess the current state of digitalization in radiation oncology departments in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. METHODS A comprehensive survey was conducted in a digital format, consisting of 53 questions that covered various aspects of digitalization including patient workflow, departmental organization, radiotherapy planning, and employee-related aspects. RESULTS Overall, 120 forms were eligible for evaluation. Participants were mainly physicians or medical physicists responsible for digitalization aspects in their departments. Nearly 70% of the institutions used electronic patient records, with 50% being completely paperless. However, the use of smartphone apps for electronic patient reported outcomes (ePROMs) and digital health applications (DIGA) was limited (9% and 4.9%, respectively). In total, 70.8% of the radio-oncology departments had interfaces with diagnostic departments, and 36% had digital interchanges with other clinics. Communication with external partners was realized mainly through fax (72%), e‑mails (55%), postal letters (63%), or other digital exchange formats (28%). Almost half of the institutions (49%) had dedicated IT staff for their operations. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this survey is the first of its kind conducted in German-speaking radiation oncology departments within the medical field. The findings suggest that there is a varied level of digitalization implementation within these departments, with certain areas exhibiting lower rates of digitalization that could benefit from targeted improvement initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Janssen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
- Private Practice of Radiation Oncology, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Rami A El Shafie
- Clinic of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Grohmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Knippen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Helios Hospitals Schwerin, 19053 Schwerin, Germany
- Department for Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul M Putora
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Beck
- Department of Radiooncology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Baehr
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Clemens
- Department of Radio-Oncology, Academic Teaching Hospital Feldkirch, Carinagasse 47, 6800, Feldkirch, Austria
| | - Sarah Stefanowicz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Rades
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jan-Niklas Becker
- Department of Radiotherapy and Special Oncology, Medical School Hannover, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fabian B Fahlbusch
- Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
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