Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Importance
Cancer immunotherapy causes a wide range of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that require close and timely follow-up.Objectives
To compare the efficiency between electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) and traditional follow-up models in cancer immunotherapy.Design, setting, and participants
This open-label randomized clinical trial was performed from September 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021. Patients were randomized to the ePRO model intervention or a control group by a computer system. A total of 28 Chinese tertiary care hospitals participated. Patients who were receiving cancer immunotherapy and could use smartphones or computers were eligible. A total of 300 patients were screened and 278 (92.7%) were enrolled.Interventions
The control group was followed up using traditional methods, including clinic visits every 21 days and telephone follow-up every 3 months. In the intervention group, the ePRO follow-up model included a questionnaire of common symptoms and an image recognition function to evaluate grades of typical irAEs. Patients completed questionnaires weekly and uploaded pictures of results between visits. When grade 1 or 2 irAEs occurred, standardized advice was sent automatically. If grade 3 or 4 irAEs were reported, the model alerted the health care team for assessment and intervention immediately. All patients were followed up for 6 months or until treatment completion.Main outcomes and measures
Incidence of serious (grades 3 to 4) irAEs, emergency department (ED) visits, quality of life (QOL), time spent implementing the ePRO model, rate of treatment discontinuation, and death were compared between groups post intervention.Results
A total of 278 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.8 [12.7 (range, 27-78)] years; 206 men [74.1%]) were included in the analysis, consisting of 141 in the intervention group and 137 in the control group. At the postintervention evaluation, the intervention group showed a reduced incidence of serious irAEs (29 of 141 [20.6%] vs 46 of 137 [33.6%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.51 [95% CI, 0.30-0.88]; P = .01), fewer ED visits (23 of 141 [16.3%] vs 41 of 137 [29.9%]; HR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.26-0.81]; P = .01), a lower rate of treatment discontinuation (5 of 141 [3.6%] vs 15 of 137 [11.0%]; HR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.11-0.85]; P = .02), a higher QOL level (mean [SD] score, 74.2 [15.1; 95% CI, 71.7-76.9] vs 64.7 [28.5; 95% CI, 61.0-68.4]; P = .001), and less time implementing follow-up (mean [SD], 8.2 [3.9; 95% CI, 5.0-10.6] minutes vs 36.1 [15.3; 95% CI, 33.6-38.8] minutes; P < .001). However, there were no significant differences between groups in death rates (2 of 141 [1.4%] vs 5 of 137 [3.6%]; HR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.07-1.99]; P = .28).Conclusions and relevance
This randomized clinical trial found that the ePRO follow-up model can improve safety and QOL of patients receiving cancer immunotherapy as well as reduce time spent monitoring. This model may provide reliable information and management recommendations.Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100052819.
SUBMITTER: Zhang L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8972037 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
JAMA network open 20220301 3
<h4>Importance</h4>Cancer immunotherapy causes a wide range of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that require close and timely follow-up.<h4>Objectives</h4>To compare the efficiency between electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) and traditional follow-up models in cancer immunotherapy.<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This open-label randomized clinical trial was performed from September 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021. Patients were randomized to the ePRO model intervention or a con ...[more]