JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The cancer medicines landscape is rapidly evolving. Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) can help identify patients’ supportive care needs relating to treatment.

Objective:

This study aims to establish what could constitute a useful and easy to use patient app and clinician dashboard for cancer medicines ePROMs in routine cancer care, and understand intention to use these technologies.

Methods:

A two stage, mixed methods approach was adopted: interviews and focus groups with cancer clinicians and patients to test wireframes (i.e. mock-ups) of a clinician dashboard and a patient app for face validity (Stage 1); and based on refinements, validate the improved wireframes through online questionnaires (Stage 2).

Results:

14 clinicians and 19 patients participated in Stage 1 interviews/focus groups. All agreed the app/dashboard looked easy to use and that they would intend to use it (if available). Clinicians had concerns around integrating the dashboard into existing care records. In Stage 2, eight clinicians and 16 patients completed online questionnaires. All reported a relatively high perceived ease of use, usefulness and intention to use each technology. Although clinicians felt viewing patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) via the dashboard would have little influence on their treatment decision making, they would still use the dashboard.

Conclusions:

This study explores the perceived ease of use, usefulness and intention to use ePROMs solutions in cancer services in Scotland. Patients and clinicians stated they would find such technologies easy to use, useful and would intend to use them routinely if available. Some differences were identified between the two stages, which warrant further research.