Viability of ePRO for Older Patients with Cancer
If you need an ePRO application for cancer studies, please contact us at info@klindat.com
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are fundamental for assessing the subjective health status of oncology patients.
In recent years, electronic assessment of patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) has gained popularity in both clinical trials and practice.
However, there is limited evidence on how well older patients with cancer can complete ePRO assessments.
This article aims to discuss the usability of ePRO assessments in older patients with cancer, including their ability to complete assessments at home and in treatment facilities, factors associated with completion rates, and the need for assistance.
This discussion is based on the research performed by David Riedl and colleagues.
Methodology
David Riedl and his team conducted a retrospective longitudinal study, which included adult cancer survivors who participated in inpatient rehabilitation.
Patients completed ePRO assessments before rehabilitation at home (T1) and after rehabilitation at the facility (T2).
The study analyzed the completion rates, need for assistance, and time taken to complete standardized questionnaires.
Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of completion rates and the need for assistance.
Usability of ePRO Assessments
Between 2017 and 2022, a total of 5,571 patients were included in the study.
The overall ePRO completion rate was high, with more than 90% of patients completing the assessments.
However, there was a decrease in completion rates for patients over 70 years old.
Approximately 80% of geriatric patients were able to complete the assessments.
Patients aged 80 years or older had a significantly higher need for assistance compared to younger age groups. Women in the older age groups reported a higher need for assistance than men.
Time Taken to Complete Assessments
On average, patients needed around 5 minutes to complete a 30-item questionnaire.
The time taken to complete the assessments increased with age, with older patients taking longer compared to younger patients.
However, the majority of patients were able to complete the assessments in under 10 minutes.
Predictors of Completion Rates and Need for Assistance
Age was a significant predictor of completion rates and the need for assistance.
Older patients had lower completion rates and a higher need for assistance compared to younger patients.
Lower physical functioning and higher symptom burden were also associated with lower completion rates and a higher need for assistance.
The type of cancer diagnosis was marginally associated with completion rates and the need for assistance.
Implications and Recommendations
The study’s findings suggest that ePRO assessments are feasible in older individuals with cancer, but older patients may require assistance to complete home-based assessments.
It may be more feasible to conduct assessments in-house for this population.
Health care providers should consider the resources necessary to support patients in using ePRO devices and provide adequate assistance when needed.
Limitations and Future Research
This study has limitations, including the lack of information on technology and health literacy, socioeconomic status, and level of education.
Future research should explore these factors and conduct qualitative studies to gain further insight into patients’ motivations and barriers to participating in ePRO assessments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ePRO assessments are viable for older patients with cancer, although some may require assistance to complete the assessments.
The findings of David Riedl and team highlight the importance of considering age, self-reported functioning, and symptom burden when implementing ePRO assessments in clinical practice.
By providing appropriate support and resources, health care providers can improve the usability and completion rates of ePRO assessments for older patients with cancer.
If you need an ePRO application for cancer studies, please contact us at info@klindat.com
Share This Post
More To Explore
The Evolution of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes (ePRO) and Data Collection
If you need an ePRO solution, please contact us at info@klindat.com In the realm of clinical trials and patient registries, the use of Electronic Patient-Reported
Effective Clinical Database Locks: Ensuring Data Integrity and Reliability
If you need clinical data management services, please contact us at info@klindat.com The integrity and reliability of the data collected in clinical trials are of
