Evaluation of a mobile phone based, Advanced Symptom Management System (ASyMS©) in the management of chemotherapy related toxicity

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a mobile phone-based, remote monitoring, advanced symptom management system (ASyMS((c))) on the incidence, severity and distress of six chemotherapy-related symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mucositis, hand-foot syndrome and diarrhoea) in patients with lung, breast or colorectal cancer. DESIGN: A two group (intervention and control) by five time points (baseline, pre-cycle 2, pre-cycle 3, pre-cycle 4 and pre-cycle 5) randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Seven clinical sites in the UK; five specialist cancer centres and two local district hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twelve people with breast, lung or colorectal cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy. INTERVENTIONS: A mobile phone-based, remote monitoring, advanced symptom management system (ASyMS((c))). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chemotherapy-related morbidity of six common chemotherapy-related symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mucositis, hand-foot syndrome and diarrhoea). RESULTS: There were significantly higher reports of fatigue in the control group compared to the intervention group (odds ratio = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.04 to 5.05, P = 0.040) and reports of hand-foot syndrome were on average lower in the control group (odds ratio control/intervention = 0.39, 95%CI = 0.17 to 0.92, P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that ASyMS((c)) can support the management of symptoms in patients with lung, breast and colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy.