Evaluation of a Symptom and Needs Assessment for Patients With Cancer

NCT ID: NCT04014751

Last Updated: 2023-01-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 1166 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-07-15
• Study Completion Date: 2022-05-31

Brief Summary

This is a quality improvement study that aims to improve on the timely identification and management of symptoms and supportive care needs in patients with cancer. The study will be evaluating the relative success of an existing on-line patient-reported symptom and needs assessment, and then the implementation and use of an updated version of the symptom and needs assessment with Northwestern Medicine (NM) cancer patients. It also aims to evaluate the impact of the symptom and needs assessment system on healthcare delivery and quality of care. Participants who complete the symptom and needs assessment as part of their usual care are invited to participate in the study by agreeing to complete an on-line survey (at 3 different time points) that asks about quality of life, adverse symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment, patient experiences with their cancer care team, and the healthcare services they have received. Patients may also be invited to participate in a one-time interview or focus group about patient experiences with the symptom and needs assessment.

Detailed Description

Cancer patients' under-identified symptoms and concerns can result in treatment interference, poor care satisfaction, compromised health-related quality of life, and taxed healthcare systems. Cancer care organizations have emphasized the need for symptom assessment and management within quality cancer care delivery. We have leveraged health information technology to pilot and implement the Lurie Screening Initiative in the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center (RHLCCC) within the Central region of Northwestern Medicine (NM). Following two pilot implementation projects, the screening initiative program is live in RHLCCC clinics. It allows patients to complete Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computer adaptive tests (PROMIS CATs) assessing depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, and physical function, along with checklists of supportive care needs, within the electronic health record (EHR). Patients can do so at home via MyChart (a patient portal of their EHR) or in clinic via an EHR hyperlink. Assessment results immediately populate the EHR; severe symptoms and endorsed supportive care needs trigger notifications to clinicians (social workers, dieticians, oncologists & oncology nurses) who can then make referrals and care decisions in real time.

This study will expand and evaluate implementation of the screening initiative via these aims:

Aim 1. Evaluate the impact of system-wide implementation of the program on patient and system outcomes over 12 months via (a) a quality improvement study (estimated n=4,000 cases) to compare the impact of the program (versus usual care) on EHR-documented health care usage and patient satisfaction using a stepped wedge design in which clusters of study sites will gradually be assigned to cross from serving as a control to implementing the program and (b) a human subjects substudy (n=1,000) with patients who will complete the symptom monitoring and other patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures of health care usage and satisfaction at baseline, 6 & 12 months. We will examine differences in PROs between participants whose screening responses trigger clinical alerts and those who do not. We will also explore longitudinal trajectories of PRO scores

Aim 3. Identify implementation facilitators and barriers to system-wide expansion of the program. We will conduct qualitative research to gather feedback from patients participating in the program expansion (n=50). This will include multiple assessments throughout implementation.

Conditions

Cancer

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Symptom Monitoring Cohort

This cohort will include up to1,050 cancer patients being seen at regional Northwestern Medicine (NM) cancer centers for their cancer care. Patients who have recently completed an on-line, EHR-integrated patient-reported symptom and needs assessment as part of their regular care will be invited to complete a survey at baseline, 6- and 12-months targeting the assessment of their symptoms, healthcare experiences and utilization. Patients may also be invited to participate in a one-time interview or focus group designed to help study investigators better understand the value of the symptom and needs assessment from the patient perspective.

Symptom Monitoring Intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

This study involves a cancer care delivery process improvement component where all cohort participants, at specified timepoints, are assessed for psychological distress, pain, fatigue, physical function, practical and supportive needs, and dietary and nutritional needs. Patients with severe elevations in psychological distress, physical symptoms or those who endorse supportive care and/or dietary needs are triaged in real time to appropriate providers within the health system (i.e., social work, nursing pool, nutrition services) to address elevated scores and/or stated needs. As such, within the context of this process improvement care delivery project, real time referrals function as interventional processes within the health system to route patients to relevant points of care based on their needs.

Interventions

Symptom Monitoring Intervention

This study involves a cancer care delivery process improvement component where all cohort participants, at specified timepoints, are assessed for psychological distress, pain, fatigue, physical function, practical and supportive needs, and dietary and nutritional needs. Patients with severe elevations in psychological distress, physical symptoms or those who endorse supportive care and/or dietary needs are triaged in real time to appropriate providers within the health system (i.e., social work, nursing pool, nutrition services) to address elevated scores and/or stated needs. As such, within the context of this process improvement care delivery project, real time referrals function as interventional processes within the health system to route patients to relevant points of care based on their needs.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

-

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

FED

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sofia Garcia

Research Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sofia Garcia, PHD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Locations

Northwestern Medicine

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

References

Smith JD, Merle JL, Webster KA, Cahue S, Penedo FJ, Garcia SF. Tracking dynamic changes in implementation strategies over time within a hybrid type 2 trial of an electronic patient-reported oncology symptom and needs monitoring program. Front Health Serv. 2022 Nov 1;2:983217. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2022.983217. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 36925901 (View on PubMed)

Garcia SF, Smith JD, Kallen M, Webster KA, Lyleroehr M, Kircher S, Bass M, Cella D, Penedo FJ. Protocol for a type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study expanding, implementing and evaluating electronic health record-integrated patient-reported symptom monitoring in a multisite cancer centre. BMJ Open. 2022 May 3;12(5):e059563. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059563.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 35504641 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

1R18HS026170-01

Identifier Type: AHRQ

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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