Applications that enable cancer patients, particularly adolescents and elementary-aged children, to communicate their symptoms to providers more effectively.

Patients with cancer often have difficulty verbalizing symptoms, which can lead to unaddressed pain. Use of adult tools for younger patients has resulted in a communication gap between patients and providers.

The proposed apps capture the complexity of patient symptoms in a way not currently possible. The first app allows patients to choose from over 30 symptoms, identifying their most significant symptoms and mapping other symptoms in relation to them. This symptom-recording style also provides clinicians new ways to illustrate patient symptoms, thus facilitating effective communication between elementary-aged cancer patients and their providers. In the second app, children use drawing and coloring to express their symptoms. The app integrates various daily activities for health and wellness promotion in addition to symptom reporting. This app could be developed for use by young patients with other chronic illnesses and both apps could be used for a wide range of patient ages.

Testing

• Offers a more complete capture of patient symptoms.
• Enhances patient-provider communication through consistent symptom reporting.
• Includes wellness goal activities and reward-based motivation.
• Enables children to express their pain and symptoms by coloring and drawing.
• Allows personal symptom reporting by young patients.

Linder, L.A., Erickson, J.M., Stegenga, K., Macpherson, C.F., Wawrzynski, S., Wilson, C., Ameringer, S. (2017). Symptom self- management strategies reported by adolescents and young adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer. 25:3793-3806. doi: 10.1007/s00520-017-3811-8

Jonathan Tyler
801-587-0515
jonathan.tyler@utah.edu