| Popis: |
Background Symptoms and associated distress in children diagnosed and treated for cancer are uniformly common, yet structured and systematic symptom monitoring is not yet commonplace. With increasing pressures on the healthcare workforce, improved systematic approaches to symptom management are required. Methods Medical, nursing and allied health oncology clinicians developed algorithms using consensus techniques to ascertain thresholds of concern for each symptom for the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics (SPPedi) tool, a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM). Algorithm vetting and refinement were achieved through iterative interviews and consultation with clinicians. Self-management evidence-based recommendations for each symptom were developed. The algorithms were incorporated into an existing smartphone application (MyQCH), as part of the Oncology Hub, and an iterative evaluation is planned to test the feasibility, acceptability, safety, usefulness, and other domains including a hybrid effectiveness trial (ACTRN12621001084875). Discussion Digital solutions provide alternative options for communication, information, and education and opportunities to harness the best of community and hospital services. The Oncology Hub and RESPONSE system is a comprehensive approach to symptom management that includes a suite of tools and resources including a smartphone app that collects PROMs and delivers symptom management advice, as well as written resources for both the families of children with cancer and clinicians. Conclusions Using technology offers new ways to think about how clinicians and families communicate and share information. Understanding how information is exchanged using technology, and how this impacts clinical workflow is critical to successful implementation, and to ultimately optimise symptom assessment management in children with cancer. |
