The RESPONSE study was represented at DKS 2023
The RESPONSE project was chosen for oral presentation at “Dansk Kirurgisk Selskab” in November 2023.
One of ACROBATIC’s affiliated projects “RESPONSE” was presented by PhD Ida Hovdenak with focusi on the part of the project regarding “Patient-led follow-up with the use of an advanced digital care guide to increase self management in rectal cancer patients”.
Background: Recent studies concerning patient-led follow-up have shown positive effect on rectal cancer patients’ management of symptoms and timely reporting of clinical symptoms. The aim of this project was to develop, test and implement an advanced digital care guide which will guide rectal cancer patients through their follow up pathway. This project’s main task is to transfer each of the steps in the patient’s follow-up pathway into a digital care guide, which, via an app, will provide the patients with an overview of the complete follow-up pathway. The digital care guide will in addition contain important educational material regarding common late sequelae and signs of cancer recurrence, instructions on how to manage and react adequately to these symptoms. In addition, a systematic screening for late sequelae via ePROMs will facilitate early identification and treatment of late sequelae.
Method: First, each step of the follow-up pathway for rectal cancer patients was transferred into an advanced digital care guide, provided by Emento. Next, the educational content regarding common long-term sequelae and signs of cancer recurrence was meticulously developed, based on educational material previously developed for analogue use in a Danish multicenter RCT. Also, a digital symptom guide was developed to provide information on how to self-manage symptoms, and where to take contact if needed. All content of the advanced digital care guide will be available for the patient throughout the complete three years follow-up pathway. Relevant stakeholders were involved in developing the advanced digital care guide, including patients, doctors, nurses and secretaries.
Results: The development of the advanced digital care guide was initiated in May 2022 and is now ready for implementation. In a feasibility study, we will measure participation rate, quantity and patterns of digital activities, patient experienced barriers and facilitators, self-management, fear of recurrence and health literacy in 50 rectal cancer patients.
Conclusion: By increasing patients’ self–management and improving patient-satisfaction we expect the advanced digital care guide to be advantageous to both the rectal cancer patients and the society.
