Weekly Digital Symptom Check-Ins Improve Outcomes for Cancer Patients
A study published in JCO Oncology Practice found that weekly electronic symptom check-ins significantly improve the quality of life for patients with advanced cancer. The research suggests that remote monitoring helps bridge communication gaps, particularly for marginalized patient groups.
Why it matters
Digital health interventions can reduce health disparities and improve patient outcomes in oncology by facilitating earlier clinical intervention.
A study by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has shown that completing a simple weekly electronic symptom check-in significantly improves quality of life and may reduce health disparities among people undergoing treatment for advanced cancer.
The PRO-TECT study, which is published in JCO Oncology Practice , showed that the biggest improvements occurred among patient groups that have historically faced greater symptom burden or barriers to effective communication with their care team, including Black patients, women, younger patients, and individuals with less formal education.
“Although we know from prior work that systematic symptom monitoring improves quality-of-life outcomes in patients with advanced cancer, the current analysis extends these findings by suggesting that some groups may experience greater benefit,” said first author Allison Deal, MS, a senior biostatistician at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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