An eHealth system supporting palliative care for patients with non–small cell lung cancer. Issue 9 (25th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gustafson, David H.; DuBenske, Lori L.; Namkoong, Kang; Hawkins, Robert; Chih, Ming‐Yuan; Atwood, Amy K.; Johnson, Roberta; Bhattacharya, Abhik; Carmack, Cindy L.; Traynor, Anne M.; Campbell, Toby C.; Buss, Mary K.; Govindan, Ramaswamy; Schiller, Joan H.; Cleary, James F.
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 119:Issue 9(2013)
• Page Start: 1744
• Page End: 1751
• Publication Date: 2013-01-25
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND:</title> <p>In this study, the authors examined the effectiveness of an online support system (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System [CHESS]) versus the Internet in relieving physical symptom distress in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-2" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS:</title> <p>In total, 285 informal caregiver‐patient dyads were assigned randomly to receive, for up to 25 months, standard care plus training on and access to either use of the Internet and a list of Internet sites about lung cancer (the Internet arm) or CHESS (the CHESS arm). Caregivers agreed to use CHESS or the Internet and to complete bimonthly surveys; for patients, these tasks were optional. The primary endpoint—patient symptom distress—was measured by caregiver reports using a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-3" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS:</title> <p>Caregivers in the CHESS arm consistently reported lower patient physical symptom distress than caregivers in the Internet arm. Significant differences were observed at 4 months (<italic>P</italic> = .031; Cohen <italic>d</italic> = .42) and at 6 months (<italic>P</italic> = .004; <italic>d</italic> = .61). Similar but marginally significant effects were observed at 2 months (<italic>P</italic> = .051; <italic>d</italic> = .39) and at 8 months (<italic>P</italic> = .061; <italic>d</italic> = .43). Exploratory analyses indicated that survival curves did not differ significantly between the arms (log‐rank <italic>P</italic> = .172), although a survival difference in an exploratory subgroup analysis suggested an avenue for further study.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-4" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS:</title> <p>The current results indicated that an online support system may reduce patient symptom distress. The effect on survival bears further investigation. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society.</p> </sec> </abstract>