Abstract

Background

Introduction

A digital app can improve monitoring of chemotherapy side effects and promote patient self-care in line with the National Cancer Strategy.

Aims and Objectives

A team at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust are using the Vitrucare platform, an on-line service that enables patients to enter daily trackers and well- being with access to 24/7 telephone helpline. The pilot includes up to 150 patients, analysing engagement, user satisfaction and admission avoidance.

Method

A pilot involving patients diagnosed with of breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy using a digital platform is currently open. Patients are offered advice tiles, a secure messaging function, and access to daily trackers entering information on temperature, bowel habits, eating and drinking, mouth mucosa, pain, skin status and well- being via their mobile phone or computer device. If a red alert is generated the patient receives a message to contact the 24 hour help line for further advice. If the patient does not phone within 15 minutes a trained call handler makes contact to ensure appropriate advice and action.

Results

Recruitment to the service has increased per month with 79 patients over a 9 month period; acceptance rate is 86% with most common reason for non-acceptance lack of internet connection. Over 2500 patient days’ 1367 daily trackers have been entered.

Patients and clinicians report secure messaging a convenient form of communicating. Patient satisfaction is positive, comments such as “Thank you for the new app, it makes my life better!” Early data suggests reduced length of stay for those admitted.

Conclusion

The chemotherapy digital app has good acceptance rates, engagement and enables patients to self- manage their condition and share decision making about their treatments. On-going evaluation will confirm initial findings.