Digital Self-Management of Symptoms and Quality of Life for Patients With Advanced Cancer

Can a digital symptom-monitoring system with automated self-management guidance and nurse follow-up improve outcomes for community-dwelling patients with advanced cancer who are receiving palliative care?In this randomized clinical trial of 1214 patients, a digital symptom-monitoring system better maintained health-related quality of life compared with usual care, with smaller declines in EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level utility and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores. Self-efficacy was more stable and unplanned hospitalizations and inpatient days were reduced, whereas performance status and emergency department visits did not differ significantly.Digital symptom monitoring with timely support can enhance community-based palliative care and health-related quality of life.

Corresponding Author: Wing-Lok Chan, MBBS, Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 1/F Professorial Block, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong (winglok@hku.hk).

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