JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Children undergoing cancer treatment experience a range of treatment-related toxicities that significantly affect quality of life and adherence to therapy. Current methods for symptom reporting rely heavily on clinician interpretation of caregiver or child verbal reports, which can result in incomplete or inaccurate records. The Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Pediatric PRO-CTCAE) provides a validated mechanism for direct symptom reporting by children and caregivers, yet its traditional administration and preselection of questions limit the breadth of symptom capture.

Objective:

This research aimed to co-design and conduct formative usability testing of the Smart Pediatric Oncology Tracker of Symptoms (SPOTS), a novel, web-based interface for the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE to allow children with cancer and their caregivers to comprehensively report symptoms.

Methods:

The research comprised two sequential phases: co-design and usability testing. Guided by child–computer interaction theory and participatory design methods, child–caregiver dyads collaborated with the research team to iteratively design and refine the SPOTS prototype. Nine participant dyads engaged in up to three co-design sessions that informed system features, layout, and content. During the usability phase, 12 additional dyads (6 with children aged 7–12 years and 6 with adolescents aged 13–17 years, each with a caregiver) completed structured usability tasks using the SPOTS prototype. Task completion, pathway efficiency, and user feedback were recorded through screen capture, field notes, and think-aloud protocols. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative feedback was analyzed thematically.

Results:

SPOTS was described by users as “very clear” and “easy to navigate”. Participants valued the visual design, the use of a customizable character, and the opportunity for children to report symptoms independently. Key usability challenges included confusing terminology, navigation redundancy, and visual complexities. Quantitative task analyses indicated that while most structured tasks were completed successfully, many required excess steps or assistance. When not directed to use a specific screen, participants’ symptom reporting methods varied, with caregivers and adolescents preferring the Body Parts Screen and younger children favoring the Search Screen.

Conclusions:

The formative development of SPOTS demonstrates the feasibility and value of co-designing pediatric health technologies directly with children and caregivers. SPOTS has the potential to enhance the implementation of the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE by offering an engaging, child-friendly digital format that facilitates more direct symptom reporting. Future work will include a pilot study to further assess real-world usability, the quality of symptom capture (i.e., completeness and accuracy), and integration with clinical workflows.