Description:
Cancer
patients have numerous symptoms, both from the cancer itself and from the side
effects of its treatments. Since many cancer treatments are delivered as
outpatient procedures or via oral medicines, cancer patients and their
caregivers often are dealing with symptoms from treatment and/or disease
progression at home. They have significant needs for information regarding
diagnosis and treatment, help with symptom management, assistance with
communication and coordination of care, and support for surveillance and
prevention of further problems.
Uncontrolled symptoms can delay cancer treatment, result in
additional doctor or ER visits, and contribute to days lost from work. Active
monitoring can allow patients and their caregivers to identify and address
symptoms earlier and at a time when intervention can resolve or control
symptoms, thereby avoiding treatment delays.
Description
Michigan
State University’s Automated Voice Response (AVR) System provides a series of
questions administered via an automated calling system to assess symptom
severity and impact on daily activities. The system calls patients at defined
intervals between scheduled clinic visits to assess their symptoms. Based on
responses to the questions, callers are referred to the Symptom Management Toolkit
(030090) for strategies to reduce or resolve their symptoms.
Benefits
·
Companion products: In addition
to the automated voice response (AVR) system, books for cancer patients (030090) and their
caregivers (100041) have
been developed.
·
Multiple delivery methods: The
AVR could be developed into a website or smartphone
application.
·
Improved patient outcomes:
Clinical trials have shown positive results in terms of the overall well being
of cancer patients. The active monitoring of the AVR increases adherence to the
treatment protocol, which in turn increases the treatment’s rate of success.
Patients in the studies reported statistically significant improvement in
symptom severity and number of overall symptoms.
·
Reduces monitoring costs: In a
randomized clinical study, the AVR system was compared with symptom management
provided by a licensed oncology nurse. The AVR system performed equally well but
for approximately one-quarter of the cost.
Applications
The AVR
and toolkits (030090 and 100041) have applications for medical offices, clinical
trial companies, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies and
HMOs.
