1
|
Taramasco C, Rimassa C, Noël R, Bravo Storm ML, Sánchez C. Co-design of a Mobile App for Engaging Breast Cancer Patients in Reporting Health Experiences: Qualitative Case Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45968. [PMID: 38010791 PMCID: PMC10714266 DOI: 10.2196/45968] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends incorporating patient-reported experience measures and patient-reported outcome measures to ensure care processes. New technologies, such as mobile apps, could help report and monitor patients' adverse effects and doubts during treatment. However, engaging patients in the daily use of mobile apps is a challenge that must be addressed in accordance with the needs of people. OBJECTIVE We present a qualitative case study documenting the process of identifying the information needs of breast cancer patients and health care professionals during the treatment process in a Chilean cancer institution. The study aims to identify patients' information requirements for integration into a mobile app that accompanies patients throughout their treatment while also providing features for reporting adverse symptoms. METHODS We conducted focus groups with breast cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy (n=3) or who completed chemotherapy between 3 months and 1 year (n=1). We also surveyed health care professionals (n=9) who were involved in patient care and who belonged to the oncology committee of the cancer center where the study took place. Content analysis was applied to the responses to categorize the information needs and the means to satisfy them. A user interface was designed according to the findings of the focus groups and was assessed by 3 trained information system and user interaction design experts from 2 countries, using heuristic evaluation guidelines for mobile apps. RESULTS Patients' information needs were classified into 4 areas: an overview of the disease, information on treatment and day-to-day affairs, assistance on the normality and abnormality of symptoms during treatment, and symptoms relevant to report. Health care professionals required patients to be provided with information on the administrative and financial process. We noted that the active involvement of the following 4 main actors is required to satisfy the information needs: patients, caregivers, social network moderators, and health professionals. Seven usability guidelines were extracted from the heuristic evaluation recommendations. CONCLUSIONS A mobile app that seeks to accompany breast cancer patients to report symptoms requires the involvement of multiple participants to handle the reports and day-to-day information needs. User interfaces must be designed with consideration of the patient's social conventions and the emotional load of the disease information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Taramasco
- Instituto de Tecnologías para la Innovación en Salud y Bienestar, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Centro para la Prevención y el Control del Cáncer, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carla Rimassa
- Instituto de Tecnologías para la Innovación en Salud y Bienestar, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Fonoaudiología, Campus San Felipe, Universidad de Valparaíso, San Felipe, Chile
| | - René Noël
- Escuela de Ingeniería Informática, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - María Loreto Bravo Storm
- Departamento de Hematología y Oncología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - César Sánchez
- Departamento de Hematología y Oncología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ziegeler B, D' Souza W, Vinton A, Mulukutla S, Shaw C, Carne R. Neurological Health: Not Merely the Absence of Disease: Current Wellbeing Instruments Across the Spectrum of Neurology. Am J Lifestyle Med 2023; 17:299-316. [PMID: 36896041 PMCID: PMC9989493 DOI: 10.1177/15598276221086584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Well-being and quality of life can vary independently of disease. Instruments measuring well-being and quality of life are commonly used in neurology, but there has been little investigation into the extent in which they accurately measure wellbeing/quality of life or if they merely reflect a diseased state of an individual. DESIGN Systematic searches, thematic analysis and narrative synthesis were undertaken. Individual items from instruments represented in ≥ 5 publications were categorised independently, without prior training, by five neurologists and one well-being researcher, as relating to 'disease-effect' or 'Well-being' with a study-created instrument. Items were additionally categorised into well-being domains. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE and PsycINFO from 1990 to 2020 were performed, across the 13 most prevalent neurological diseases. RESULTS 301 unique instruments were identified. Multiple sclerosis had most unique instruments at 92. SF-36 was used most, in 66 studies. 22 instruments appeared in ≥ 5 publications: 19/22 'well-being' outcome instruments predominantly measured disease effect (Fleiss kappa = .60). Only 1/22 instruments was categorised unanimously as relating to well-being. Instruments predominantly measured mental, physical and activity domains, over social or spiritual. CONCLUSIONS Most neurological well-being or quality-of-life instruments predominantly measure disease effect, rather than disease-independent well-being. Instruments differed widely in well-being domains examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cameron Shaw
- University Hospital Geelong, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cognition: development of a cognitive testing battery on the iPad for the evaluation of patients with brain Mets. Acta Neurol Belg 2022; 122:145-152. [PMID: 34302640 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-021-01744-9] [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: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
To make assessment of neurocognitive decline in patients with brain metastases more reliable and feasible, Brainlab AG developed an application 'Cognition' for the iPad by gamifying validated paper and pencil tests. This study aims at validating the computerized tests. We assessed reliability and comparability of 'Cognition' with similar well-established paper and pencil tests in two consecutive sessions per participant. The electronic tests used the same assignments with different stimuli than the paper and pencil tests. Domains involved are learning and memory, attention and processing speed, verbal fluency and executive functions. In total 5 employees and 25 cancer patients without disease in the CNS participated, of whom 24 completed both sessions. Reliability was found satisfying for the domains learning and memory (p = 0.08; p = 0.612; p = 0.4445) and verbal fluency (p = 0.064). A learning effect showed for attention and processing speed (p = 0.001) while executive functioning showed a significant decline, possibly due to radiotherapy-related fatigue (p = 0.013). Concerning comparability between electronic and paper results, a significant correlation was found for attention and processing speed (p = 0.000), for verbal fluency (p = 0.03), for executive functions (p = 0.000), but not for learning and memory (p = 0.41; p = 0.25). Overall 'Cognition' showed moderate comparability, probably caused by the consecution of tests during sessions and the unfamiliarity with electronic test in older patients. After improving its functionality, the application needs to be validated in patients with brain metastases before it can detect cognitive decline and possible early radiation toxicity or relapses.
Collapse
|
4
|
Gao YK, Kuksis M, Id Said B, Chehade R, Kiss A, Tran W, Sickandar F, Sahgal A, Warner E, Soliman H, Jerzak KJ. Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Women with Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. Oncologist 2021; 26:e1951-e1961. [PMID: 34506676 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second leading cause of brain metastases (BrM). We assessed the treatment patterns and outcomes of women treated for breast cancer BrM at our institution in the modern era of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of women (≥18 years of age) with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with surgery, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), or SRS to the brain at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2018. Patients with a history of other malignancies and those with an uncertain date of diagnosis of BrM were excluded. Descriptive statistics were generated and survival analyses were performed with subgroup analyses by breast cancer subtype. RESULTS Among 683 eligible patients, 153 (22.4%) had triple-negative breast cancer, 188 (27.5%) had HER2+, 246 (36.0%) had hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2-, and 61 (13.3%) had breast cancer of an unknown subtype. The majority of patients received first-line WBRT (n = 459, 67.2%) or SRS (n = 126, 18.4%). The median brain-specific progression-free survival and median overall survival (OS) were 4.1 months (interquartile range [IQR] 1.0-9.6 months) and 5.1 months (IQR 2.0-11.7 months) in the overall patent population, respectively. Age >60 years, presence of neurological symptoms at BrM diagnosis, first-line WBRT, and HER2- subtype were independently prognostic for shorter OS. CONCLUSION Despite the use of SRS, outcomes among patients with breast cancer BrM remain poor. Strategies for early detection of BrM and central nervous system-active systemic therapies warrant further investigation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Although triple-negative breast cancer and HER2+ breast cancer have a predilection for metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS), patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2- breast cancer represent a high proportion of patients with breast cancer brain metastases (BrM). Hence, clinical trials should include patients with BrM and evaluate CNS-specific activity of novel systemic therapies when feasible, irrespective of breast cancer subtype. In addition, given that symptomatic BrM are associated with shorter survival, this study suggests that screening programs for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer BrM warrant further investigation in an era of minimally toxic stereotactic radiosurgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yizhuo Kelly Gao
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Kuksis
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Badr Id Said
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rania Chehade
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alex Kiss
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - William Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faisal Sickandar
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjun Sahgal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ellen Warner
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hany Soliman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katarzyna J Jerzak
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Weiss Lucas C, Renovanz M, Jost J, Sabel M, Wiewrodt D, Rapp M. Assessment Practice of Patient-Centered Outcomes in Surgical Neuro-Oncology: Survey-Based Recommendations for Clinical Routine. Front Oncol 2021; 11:702017. [PMID: 34458144 PMCID: PMC8386174 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.702017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The psycho-oncological burden related to the diagnosis of an intracranial tumor is often accompanied by neurocognitive deficits and changes in character, overall affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activities of daily living. Regular administration of adequate screening tools is crucial to ensure a timely detection of needs for support and/or specific interventions. Although efforts have been made to assure the quality of neuro-oncological care, clinical assessment practice of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remains overall heterogeneous, calling for a concise recommendation tailored to neuro-oncological patients. Therefore, this survey, promoted by the German Society of Neurosurgery, was conducted to evaluate the status quo of health care resources and PRO/neurocognition assessment practices throughout departments of surgical neuro-oncology in Germany. 72/127 (57%) of registered departments participated in the study, including 83% of all university hospital units. A second aim was to shed light on the impact of quality assurance strategies (i.e., department certification as part of an integrative neuro-oncology cancer center; CNOC) on the assessment practice, controlled for interacting structural factors, i.e., university hospital status (UH) and caseload. Despite an overall good to excellent availability of relevant health care structures (psycho-oncologist: 90%, palliative care unit: 97%, neuropsychology: 75%), a small majority of departments practice patient-centered screenings (psycho-oncological burden: 64%, HRQoL: 76%, neurocognition: 58%), however, much less frequently outside the framework of clinical trials. In this context, CNOC affiliation, representing a specific health care quality assurance process, was associated with significantly stronger PRO assessment practices regarding psycho-oncological burden, independent of UH status (common odds ratio=5.0, p=0.03). Nevertheless, PRO/neurocognitive assessment practice was not consistent even across CNOC. The overall most commonly used PRO/neurocognitive assessment tools were the Distress Thermometer (for psycho-oncological burden; 64%), the EORTC QLQ-C30 combined with the EORTC QLQ-BN20 (for HRQoL; 52%) and the Mini-Mental Status Test (for neurocognition; 67%), followed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; 33%). Accordingly, for routine clinical screening, the authors recommend the Distress Thermometer and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20, complemented by the MoCA as a comparatively sensitive yet basic neurocognitive test. This recommendation is intended to encourage more regular, adequate, and standardized routine assessments in neuro-oncological practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Weiss Lucas
- Center of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mirjam Renovanz
- Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Jost
- Department of Neurosurgery, Muenster University Hospital, Muenster, Germany
| | - Michael Sabel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich Heine University Hospital of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Dorothee Wiewrodt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Muenster University Hospital, Muenster, Germany
| | - Marion Rapp
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich Heine University Hospital of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Goebel S, Knuth C, Damm M, Linden D, Coburger J, Ringel F, Tabatabai G, Mehdorn M, Renovanz M. Towards the targeted assessment of relevant problems: Optimization of the distress Thermometer for adult neuro-oncological patients. Psychooncology 2020; 29:2057-2066. [PMID: 33002245 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Generic psychosocial screening tools may not reflect the unique symptom profile of brain tumour patients (BTPs). The aim was to adapt the problem list of the distress thermometer (DT) for BTPs. METHODS First, items of low relevance for BTPs were identified on basis of retrospective analyses. Second, relevant yet missing problems were identified via an extensive literature search, qualitative interviews with BTPs and experts, as well as an online expert survey. The resulting raw version of the adapted problem list in BTPs was subsequently pretested. RESULTS In the first part, data of n = 657 BTPs were analysed. Twelve items (20%) were excluded in this step as they proved to be less relevant for BTPs (i.e., items were endorsed by less than 10% and without significant correlations to patients' DT score). In the second part, qualitative interviews and the online survey with 102 professionals led to the addition of 21 new and the modification and condensation of 17 relevant problems specific for BTPs. This adapted list was than successfully pretested in n = 19 patients, leading to the 'distress thermometer brain tumour problem list' (DT-BT), consisting of 42 relevant problems. CONCLUSION The adapted problem list for the DT particularly reflects the neurological and psychosocial burden of an intracranial tumour and allows for the targeted assessment of the specific burdens and needs of BTPs. Our revised version of the DTs problem list (DT-BT) should in the next step be widely validated in multinational samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Goebel
- Department of Psychology, University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Carina Knuth
- Department of Psychology, University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Matthias Damm
- Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Linden
- Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jan Coburger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Ringel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ghazaleh Tabatabai
- Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | - Mirjam Renovanz
- Department of Neurology & Interdisciplinary Neuro-Oncology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Tuebingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Marotta D, Tucker Z, Hayward EN, Gerstenecker A, Gammon M, Mason M, Willhelm G, Bae H, Triebel K. Relationship between cognitive functioning, mood, and other patient factors on quality of life in metastatic brain cancer. Psychooncology 2020; 29:1174-1184. [PMID: 32364662 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurocognitive functioning (NCF), mood disturbances, physical functioning, and social support all share a relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, investigations into these relationships have not been conducted in persons with brain metastases (BM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-three newly diagnosed persons with BM were administered various cognitive batteries. Data were collected across a wide range of categories (ie, cognitive, demographic, disease/treatment, mood, social support, physical functioning). The Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT) scale was used to measure HRQOL. RESULTS Mood and physical function correlated with lower HRQOL in every measured domain. Verbal learning and memory correlated with every FACT subscale except emotional quality of life. Social support also correlated with several HRQOL domains. Stepwise linear regression revealed that mood predicted general well-being and several FACT subscales, including physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. Social support and physical health were predictive of general well-being. Verbal learning and memory predicted cognitive well-being. CONCLUSION HRQOL is a complex construct affected by numerous variables. In particular, mood, physical functioning, and learning and memory were important predictors of HRQOL, and clinicians are encouraged to obtain information in these areas during baseline assessments in persons with BM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Marotta
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama, USA.,Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Zachary Tucker
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Emily N Hayward
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Adam Gerstenecker
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Meredith Gammon
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Matthew Mason
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama, USA.,Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gabrielle Willhelm
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Helen Bae
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kristen Triebel
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|