Using ePROMs for follow-up after palliative radiotherapy: An exploratory study with patients and health care providers.

Abstract

Patients treated with palliative radiotherapy may experience symptoms decreasing their quality of life. Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) could provide an opportunity to follow-up patients after treatment. A mixed-method study was performed using self-constructed questionnaires, focus groups and interviews with patients and health care professionals (HCP). A qualitative approach was used to code the data. Forty-two patients, 21 radiation-oncologists, 15 general practitioners (GPs) and 24 home-care nurses completed a questionnaire. Ten patients, 6 radiation-oncologists, 14 GPs and 5 nurses were interviewed or participated in a focus group. Although patients and HCP are satisfied with current care, they believe ePROMs could improve follow-up, communication, continuity of care and self-management of symptoms. An easy to use, versatile ePROM platform seems to be important for successful implementation. Self-care tips and contact information should be added to relevant ePROM-questions, on both physical and psychological symptoms. Patients and HCP agree that ePROMs could improve systematical clinical follow-up after palliative radiotherapy, with self-management support being the primary objective of such a system. Practice implications ePROMs after palliative radiotherapy seem feasible, the exact patient population that could benefit the most will need to be explored further; as the palliative population is very diverse.