- The early-stage colorectal cancer patients took part in the analysis of the eRAPID system.
- It is the first such analysis to allow automated information.
- The University of Leeds developed it.
TheHealthcareDesk: The early-stage colorectal, breast, or gynecological cancer patients took part in analyzing the eRAPID system. The University of Leeds developed it. It enabled them to inform online indications from home and undergo immediate information on whether to self-manage or seek remedial attention.
Patients recorded better symptom check and physical well-being in the early weeks of treatment, with the system checking symptom degeneration in about 9 percent of patients after 12 weeks. Patients reported more faith in fulfilling their health at the end of their four-month analysis period.
It is the first such analysis to allow automated information, and only it allows, to concentrate largely on early-stage patients whose practice strives to cure cancer.
Professor Galina Velikova, Programme lead at the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of Leeds, and the Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, stated, “Rising numbers of cancer patients are receiving a range of anti-cancer treatments which means patients are living longer and require longer periods of care and monitoring.”
She further added, “Remote online monitoring options have the potential to be a patient-centered, safe and effective approach to support patients during cancer treatment and manage the growing clinical workload for cancer care.”
Dr. Kate Absolom, University Academic Fellow in the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s and the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Leeds, stated, “The encouraging results from this study will help pave the way for future development and refinement of these interventions in broader cancer settings. The COVID19 pandemic highlighted the need and speeded a shift towards technology-enabled care, so these study results are very timely.”
Symptoms can significantly lower patients’ quality of life. Better surveillance and administration can enhance medication delivery and decrease patients’ physical suffering.
Supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the eRAPID test set out to discover whether symptom control could be developed using mechanical advice to enhance patients’ welfare.
It involved 508 patients aged 18 to 86 who were beginning chemotherapy at Leeds Cancer Centre. All patients received their usual care, with 256 getting the eRAPID system as additional care.
Participants acknowledged a set of cancer-specific issues through an online symptom report once a week, or when new symptoms appeared, over the 18-week study period. Using symptom asperity grades, a computer algorithm created by the researchers and clinicians obtained all the responses and set on the advice patients received.
Problems covered pain levels, nausea, spending time in bed, and not meeting family needs. Participants took instant advice on symptom management or contacted the hospital. Symptom reports were immediately displayed in the patients’ electronic documents, and email alerts for severe symptom reports were sent immediately to clinicians.
A total of 3,314 online records were completed, reaching 18,867 individual symptoms – an average of 13 reports per patient. Distress alerts were sent 29 times (under 1 percent). Serious symptoms did not demand urgent medical attention, recorded 461 times (14 percent). More than 80 percent of self-reported symptoms triggered self-management advice, presenting a cost-effective solution with more favorable patient outcomes.
Julia Brown, Professor of Clinical Trials Research and Director of the University of Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, in the School of Medicine, stated, “This study provides timely and important evidence that remote real-time monitoring of cancer patients, particularly essential during pandemic conditions, is feasible and can improve patients’ physical wellbeing.”
Source-Hindustan Times
