Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) Apps in Breast Cancer Care

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) Apps in Breast Cancer Care

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) Apps in Breast Cancer Care

Please contact us at info@klindat.com if you need an ePRO application for a breast cancer study

Breast cancer is a prevalent disease affecting one in eight women during their lifetime [1].

As the field of cancer therapy continues to advance, there is a growing recognition of the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patient-centered care, especially in the context of progressive diseases like breast cancer.

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, which assess the patient’s perspective on their health status and treatment experience, have gained prominence in oncology research and clinical practice.

Traditionally, PRO assessments have been conducted using paper-based questionnaires (pPRO).

However, with the increasing use of technology in healthcare, there has been a shift towards electronic PRO (ePRO) surveys, which can be administered via tablet computers or smartphones.

ePRO apps offer several advantages over their paper counterparts, including real-time data collection, improved data accuracy, and enhanced patient engagement.

The Acceptance and Evaluation of ePRO Apps

Studies have shown that ePRO surveys are reliable and equally valid compared to pPRO surveys.

However, there is limited research on the acceptance and evaluation of ePRO apps, particularly in breast cancer patients with a high burden of disease.

Understanding patient preferences and barriers to the use of ePRO apps is crucial for their successful implementation in routine clinical care.

In a recent study conducted in Germany, led by Joachim Graf and colleagues, 106 women with adjuvant or advanced breast cancer were asked to complete HRQoL questionnaires using both a tablet-based ePRO app and paper-based methods [2].

The results revealed that the majority of patients found the ePRO assessment to be more suitable (75.5%), less stressful (68.9%), and less difficult (65.1%) than the pPRO assessment [2].

Furthermore, 82.1% of patients believed that ePRO assessment improved healthcare in hospitals [2].

Factors Influencing ePRO Evaluation

The study also investigated the factors that influenced the evaluation of ePRO surveys.

It was found that the level of education and the time span of computer technology use had a significant impact on the evaluation.

Patients with higher levels of education and more experience with computer technology reported that completing the ePRO survey required less effort and was less difficult compared to the pPRO survey.

However, age, HRQoL, therapy setting, and computer skills did not affect the evaluation [2].

Usability of ePRO Apps

The usability of the ePRO app was evaluated in terms of operator convenience, contrast, font size, design, and overall handling.

The results indicated high to very high ratings in all dimensions, with handling receiving the highest average score of 8.6 [2].

These findings suggest that ePRO apps are well-received by breast cancer patients and offer a user-friendly experience.

Future Implications

The results of this study provide valuable insights into the acceptance and evaluation of ePRO apps in breast cancer care.

They demonstrate that ePRO surveys are feasible for measuring HRQoL in breast cancer patients and are preferred over pPRO surveys.

However, it is essential to develop apps that address the needs of patients with lower levels of education and technical skills.

Further research with larger patient populations is needed to refine ePRO apps and make them accessible to all patient groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the evolution of ePRO apps in breast cancer care represents a significant advancement in patient-centered care.

These apps offer a convenient and reliable method for collecting HRQoL data and improving healthcare outcomes.

By understanding patient preferences and addressing barriers to adoption, ePRO apps can be effectively integrated into routine clinical practice, empowering patients and enhancing their overall treatment experience.

Please contact us at info@klindat.com if you need an ePRO application for a breast cancer study

References:

[1] Key Statistics for Breast Cancer

[2] Implementation of an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome App for Health-Related Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: Evaluation and Acceptability Analysis in a Two-Center Prospective Trial

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