eRAPID: Electronic monitoring of patient-reported symptoms in patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer managed at Leeds Cancer Centre

Start date: 1st August 2019

Review date: 31st July 2021

Funding: IQVIA and BMS

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Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related ill-health and death in the UK.  Through advances in the development of systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) and their integration into routine care, the prognosis for people in the later stages of lung cancer is improving. International studies are showing that innovative electronic approaches to monitoring cancer symptoms using patient reported outcomes (PROMs) are cost-effective, can improve quality of life and in advanced lung cancer improves survival. Our recently completed eRAPID NIHR-funded programme showed patient benefits and cost-effectiveness in patient electronic patient monitoring and reporting of treatment related side effects in early breast and colorectal cancers.

In this study we are further developing the eRAPID approach with lung cancer patients and clinicians at Leeds Cancer Centre. We will evaluate patient benefit to monitoring cancer treatment toxicity, supporting patients to self-manage their symptoms and assess its feasibility within routine care. The study will provide insight into the key issues that need to be addressed to in order develop capability to capture PROMs in routine care.  The study is working as part of the collaboration, Real World Evidence Alliance between LTHT and IQVIA at the Leeds Cancer Centre.

Aims and objectives:

We aim to assess feasibility and utility of introducing an electronic pathway to monitor lung cancers during treatment and one year follow-up:

  1. To compare disease-related symptoms and health related quality of life across groups of patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer
  2. To compare treatment-related side effects of patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer prescribed different types of SACT
  3. To compare outcomes, such as healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU), in a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer systematically self-reporting symptoms.
  4. To examine the patient acceptance and feasibility of this approach. To determine optimal means to engage patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer in the systematic reporting of PROMs in a real world setting.
  5. To assess the utility to of PROMs reported by patients with a diagnosis of thoracic cancer to their treating healthcare professionals.

Research team: The study brings together clinicians, researchers  and patients with expertise and knowledge in cancer care, patient-centred research, applications of IT for patient self-reporting, health informatics, quantitative and qualitative methods and implementing interventions.

Project team:

  • Professor Galina Velikova (Principle Investigator)
  • Dr Katy Clarke
  • Christopher Bedding
  • Dr Rosemary Peacock
  • Andrea Gibson
  • Sarah Dickinson

For further information: please contact Galina Velikova G.Velikova@leeds.ac.uk