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Use of an electronic patient-reported outcome measurement system to improve distress management in oncology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2013

Sophia K. Smith ,
Krista Rowe  and
Amy P. Abernethy
Sophia K. Smith
Affiliation:
Center for Learning Health Care, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina Duke Cancer Care Research Program, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina
Krista Rowe
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Cellular Therapy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Amy P. Abernethy*
Affiliation:
Center for Learning Health Care, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina Duke Cancer Care Research Program, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Amy P. Abernethy, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3436, Durham, North Carolina. E-mail: amy.abernethy@duke.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

Management of patient distress is a critical task in cancer nursing and cancer practice. Here we describe two examples of how an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) measurement system implemented into routine oncology care can practically aid clinical and research tasks related to distress management.

Methods:

Tablet personal computers were used to routinely complete a standardized ePRO review of systems surveys at point of care during every encounter in the Duke Oncology outpatient clinics. Two cases of use implementation are explored: (1) triaging distressed patients for optimal care, and (2) psychosocial program evaluation research.

Results:

Between 2009 and 2011, the ePRO system was used to collect information during 17,338 Duke Oncology patient encounters. The system was used to monitor patients for psychosocial distress employing an electronic clinical decision support algorithm, with 1,952 (11.3%) referrals generated for supportive services. The system was utilized to examine the efficacy of a psychosocial care intervention documenting statistically significant improvements in distress, despair, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) in 50 breast cancer patients.

Significance of results:

ePRO solutions can guide best practice management of cancer patient distress. Nurses play a key role in implementation and utilization.

Keywords

Patient-reported outcomesOncologyDistress management
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 69 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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