ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term follow-up (5 years) of implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in clinical practice to monitor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. METHODS: A mixed method design was used. The usage rate of OncoQuest (a touch screen computer system to monitor HRQOL) and the subsequent nurse consultation was calculated among HNC patients who visited the outpatient clinic for regular follow-up, as well as differences between ever users and never users (sociodemographic and clinical characteristics). The content of the nurse consultation was investigated. Reasons for not using (barriers) or using (facilitators) OncoQuest and the nurse consultation were explored from the perspective of HNC patients, and of head and neck surgeons. RESULTS: Usage rate of OncoQuest was 67% and of the nurse consultation 79%. Usage of OncoQuest was significantly related to tumor subsite and tumor stage. Topics most frequently (>40%) discussed during the nurse consultation were global quality of life (97%), head and neck cancer related symptoms (82%), other physical symptoms such as pain (61%), and psychological problems such as anxiety (44%). Several barriers and facilitators to implement PROMs in clinical practice were reported by both patients and head and neck surgeons. CONCLUSION: Usage of PROMs in clinical practice and a nurse consultation is durable, even 5 years after the introduction. This study contributes to better insight into long-term follow-up of implementation, thereby guiding future research and projects that aim to implement PROMs in clinical practice to monitor HRQOL among (head and neck) cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms/physiopathology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Monitoring, Physiologic , Quality of Life , Referral and Consultation , Surveys and Questionnaires , User-Computer InterfaceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an online self-management application (OncoKompas) among cancer survivors. In OncoKompas, cancer survivors can monitor their quality of life (QOL) via participant reported outcomes (PROs) ("Measure"), which is followed by automatically generated individually tailored feedback ("Learn") and personalized advice on supportive care services ("Act"). METHODS: A pretest-posttest design was used, conducting a survey before providing access to OncoKompas, and 2 weeks after, followed by an interview by a nurse. Adoption was defined as the percentage of cancer survivors that agreed to participate in the study and returned the T0 questionnaire. Implementation was defined as the percentage of participants that actually used OncoKompas as intended (T1). General satisfaction was assessed based on the mean score of three study-specific questions: (1) general impression of OncoKompas, (2) the user-friendliness, and (3) the ability to use OncoKompas without assistance (10-point Likert scales). Furthermore, satisfaction was measured with the Net Promotor Scale (NPS). RESULTS: OncoKompas was feasible with an adoption grade of 64 %, an implementation grade of 75-91 %, a mean satisfaction score of 7.3, and a positive NPS (1.9). Sociodemographic and clinical factors and QOL were not associated with satisfaction. Several facilitators and barriers related to the feasibility of OncoKompas were identified. CONCLUSION: OncoKompas is considered feasible, but has to be further improved. In order to enhance feasibility and increase satisfaction, we have to balance the time it takes to use OncoKompas, measurement precision, and tailoring towards personalized advices.
Subject(s)
Mobile Applications , Neoplasms/therapy , Precision Medicine/methods , Survivors , Telemedicine/methods , Adult , Aged , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/nursing , Patient-Centered Care/methods , Personal Satisfaction , Quality of Life , Self Care , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
In our contemporary postmodern society, a modified perception of the human body is accompanied by an increasing demand for body shaping procedures. The treatment needs to be effective but it is just as important that they are safe and can be easily integrated into the daily working and routine schedule. While the options for minimally invasive volume addition are largely limited to injectable implants based on hyaluronic acid or autologous fat, a multitude of options are available for volume reduction. Before deciding on the method of choice, the following needs to be considered: which indications need to be treated, the extent of the reduction in volume and how much pain and possible undesired reactions the patient is prepared to accept.