Monitoring Symptoms in Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy
Author Information
Author(s): Sylvie D Lambert, Sara Victoria Soldera, Jordana Kazdan, Francesca Frati, Anita Slominska, Melina Boutin, Vanessa Samouelian, Caroline Letendre, Karine Bilodeau, Doris Howell, Karine Lebreton, Michel-Olivier Gratton
Primary Institution: McGill University
Hypothesis
This scoping review aims to guide decision making in the development of PROMs programs for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that while there are promising components of PROM programs, many questions remain about their implementation and efficacy.
Supporting Evidence
- 22 articles described 16 unique multicomponent, electronic PROM programs for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
- Patients typically completed 18-26 items from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) or Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) weekly.
- Commonly monitored symptoms included diarrhea, fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, nausea, decreased appetite, rash, joint pain, pain, and mood.
- The only consistent finding was an increase in quality of life.
Takeaway
This study looked at how patients report their symptoms while getting cancer treatment, helping doctors understand what patients are feeling.
Methodology
The review involved searching four electronic databases and extracting data on PROM programs for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include the reliance on self-reported data and the variability in how PROMs are implemented across different studies.
Limitations
The review excluded studies published in languages other than English or French and some studies provided limited information about their PROM programs.
Participant Demographics
The studies included patients with mixed cancer diagnoses, with a majority being adults receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 5.0 to 10.6 minutes
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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