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Symptom monitoring linked to an alert algorithm improves quality of life for lung cancer patients. By sending the alert email to the patients themselves the patient retains more control over their treatment, while the health care provider is not faced with an increase in workload. This is shown by researchers from collaborating Dutch institutions in JAMA Network Open.
The SYMPRO-Long study investigated whether lung cancer patients can self-monitor their symptoms and what effect this has on their quality of life. A total of 515 patients from 14 Dutch hospitals participated in the SYMPRO-Long study. Patients completed an online symptom checklist weekly for up to 1 year after starting their treatment. If symptoms exceeded a predefined threshold, an alert email was sent to the healthcare provider (in the active intervention group) or to the patient themselves (in the reactive intervention group). This allowed healthcare providers to take immediate action if necessary, also in between hospital visits. Both groups were compared to patients receiving standard care.
The study found that it did not matter whether the alert email was sent to the healthcare provider or to the patient. In both cases, monitoring the symptoms led to a strong improvement in quality of life up to 1 year after starting treatment. It also seemed that self-monitoring of the symptoms may ensure improved survival.
More control
The findings of this study provide evidence for the need to integrate symptom monitoring in daily clinical practice. Sending the alert email to the patients themselves seems to be a promising solution to reduce workload, compared to sending the alert to the healthcare provider, especially given the (future) shortage of healthcare personnel. In addition, patients retain more control over their treatment and well-being. As online symptom monitoring was feasible for most patients, healthcare providers and patients can always decide together which method suits the patients’ needs.
The SYMPRO-Lung study was funded by Roche Netherlands, Stichting Kwaliteitsgelden Medisch Specialisten (SKMS) and Zorg Innovatiefonds. The funding organizations had no role in the study.
About the publication
This study has been published in JAMA Network Open. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28975
