About our work
All the data for this study has now been collected and we are in the report writing stages (January 2007).
We worked with patients who received chemotherapy treatment for their cancer. People can experience a variety of symptoms and side effects from their chemotherapy treatment, so this study evaluated the impact of a system we developed to monitor and manage the side-effects that patients can experience at home. The system and method we chose to record, monitor and send information through was a mobile phone.
Aims
The main aim of the whole study was to determine changes in patients' symptom outcomes as a result of using the mobile phone intervention, compared to patients who didn't use the mobile phone.
How was the study carried out?
There were 3 stages to this study. At the beta testing stage, we tested the I.T. system to make sure it was reliable and that it worked the way it should. We then had a pilot study where we tested the I.T. system again. At this point, it was tested with patients who use it to monitor their side-effects during chemotherapy treatment. Once we knew the system was working properly, we carried out the main study. The aim of the main study was to see if using the I.T. system made any difference to the patients' side effects during chemotherapy.
Who has taken part?
Patients who received chemotherapy treatment for colorectal, breast or lung cancer were asked to take part in the study. The main study involved 112 patients from several hospitals across Scotland and one hospital in England.
What did the patients have to do?
Patients who agreed to take part in the study were randomly put into two groups. One group received the care they would usually get from their hospital. The other group used the I.T. system. These patients were given a mobile phone along with a thermometer which they used to take their temperature each day. All the patients using the I.T. system were given instructions at the start and shown how to use the system. Both groups took part for about 12 to 16 weeks whilst receiving 4 chemotherapy treatments.
Patients who used the I.T. system completed a short questionnaire twice a day, or any time they felt unwell, on the mobile phone screen. They did this for 14 days following each chemotherapy treatment. The questionnaire asked about various side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment and patients' answers indicated how they were feeling. Patients also took their temperature and put the reading into the mobile phone. The patient then sent the questionnaire and the temperature reading to the computer system based at the patient’s hospital. This information was then analysed by the system and checked by the nurse at the patient's hospital. Then, if the patient had reported side-effects that were of concern, or if the patient had a high temperature, the nurse was alerted by the computer via a pager. The nurse then contacted the patient by telephone to provide advice.
Why is this research important?
It is important to carry out research with patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy in this way because the results we find may help to improve the provision of cancer services in the future for other cancer patients.
Who are we working with?
The study is being carried out by a team of researchers from the Cancer Care Research Centre: Professor Nora Kearney, Morven Miller, Roma Maguire, Lesley Taylor and Lisa McCann. We are collaborating with the Department of Computing Science, University of Glasgow and Kelvin Connect (Kelvin connect is a company based in Glasgow who develop innovative mobile data management solutions on hand-held computers).
The seven clinical sites we worked with across Scotland were: Raigmore Hospital, Inverness; Aberdeen Royal Infirmary; Ninewells Hospital, Dundee; Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock and Ayr Hospital, Ayr. We also worked with the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
When is the final report due?
The final report for the study is due at the end of March 2007. Results of the study and a copy of the final report will be available on this site after the end of March 2007.
Funding Organisation
This research project is funded by Stirling University Research Enterprise (SURE).
More Information
For more information on ASyMS© please contact Professor Nora Kearney.