A controlled study of use of patient-reported outcomes to improve assessment of late effects after treatment for head-and-neck cancer

TY - JOUR

T1 - A controlled study of use of patient-reported outcomes to improve assessment of late effects after treatment for head-and-neck cancer

AU - Kjaer, Trille Kristina

AU - Dalton, Susanne Oksbjerg

AU - Andersen, Elo

AU - Karlsen, Randi V

AU - Nielsen, Anni Linnet

AU - Hansen, Merete Kjaer

AU - Frederiksen, Kirsten

AU - Johansen, Christoffer

N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2016/5/1

Y1 - 2016/5/1

N2 - Background and purpose To test the effect of longitudinal feedback on late effects reported by survivors of head-and-neck cancer (HNC) to clinicians during regular follow-up. Material and methods A total of 266 participants were sequentially assigned to either control or intervention group and filled in electronic versions of the EORTC QLQ C-30, H&N35, HADS and a study-specific list of symptoms at up to two consecutive follow-up visits. Participants' symptoms displayed according to severity were provided to the clinician for the intervention group but not for the control group. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the number of symptoms assessed by clinicians (primary outcome). Multivariate linear regression models examined participants' long-term symptom control and QoL (secondary outcome). Results More symptoms were assessed by clinicians in the intervention group at all three visits (P < 0.001, <0.001, and P = 0.04). No effect was observed on most patient outcomes. When prompted by patient-reported outcomes at consultations, clinicians and patients were in better agreement about the occurrence of severe symptoms at all three visits. Conclusion Timely patient-reported outcomes to clinicians in routine follow-up of HNC survivors enhanced clinicians' rates of assessment of late symptoms. Giving reports of patient-reported outcome to clinicians had limited impact on participants' QoL or symptom burden.

AB - Background and purpose To test the effect of longitudinal feedback on late effects reported by survivors of head-and-neck cancer (HNC) to clinicians during regular follow-up. Material and methods A total of 266 participants were sequentially assigned to either control or intervention group and filled in electronic versions of the EORTC QLQ C-30, H&N35, HADS and a study-specific list of symptoms at up to two consecutive follow-up visits. Participants' symptoms displayed according to severity were provided to the clinician for the intervention group but not for the control group. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the number of symptoms assessed by clinicians (primary outcome). Multivariate linear regression models examined participants' long-term symptom control and QoL (secondary outcome). Results More symptoms were assessed by clinicians in the intervention group at all three visits (P < 0.001, <0.001, and P = 0.04). No effect was observed on most patient outcomes. When prompted by patient-reported outcomes at consultations, clinicians and patients were in better agreement about the occurrence of severe symptoms at all three visits. Conclusion Timely patient-reported outcomes to clinicians in routine follow-up of HNC survivors enhanced clinicians' rates of assessment of late symptoms. Giving reports of patient-reported outcome to clinicians had limited impact on participants' QoL or symptom burden.

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Head and Neck Neoplasms

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Patient Reported Outcome Measures

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Research Design

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Survivors

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.04.034

DO - 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.04.034

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27178143

SN - 0167-8140

VL - 119

SP - 221

EP - 228

JO - Radiotherapy & Oncology

JF - Radiotherapy & Oncology

IS - 2

ER -