UC Irvine’s electronic patient-reported outcome tool reduces cancer care disparities

Irvine, Calif., July 15, 2024 — A University of California, Irvine research team has developed and implemented an intervention to enhance cancer care support services for racial and ethnic minority patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The electronic patient-reported outcome tool is a web-based application that allows individuals to enter their health data into a smartphone, tablet or computer. In this study, the ePRO was available in multiple languages and coupled with digital analytics. At each treatment visit, participants digitally recorded and submitted their symptoms and side effects, enabling oncology pharmacists to conduct real-time assessments and proactively intervene.

Published online today in the journal JCO Oncology Practice, UC Irvine’s ePRO trial was conducted between July 2021 and June 2023, with a focus on newly diagnosed adult cancer patients receiving intravenous anticancer therapies. Researchers found that Hispanic and Asian participants reported higher levels of pain, nausea and vomiting compared to non-Hispanic white patients and were also more frequent visitors to urgent care centers for their symptoms.

“Racial and ethnic disparities significantly affect symptom burden and severity, but early recognition of health issues is often hindered by patients’ limited health literacy or poor communication due to language barriers,” said Alexandre Chan, corresponding author and UC Irvine chair and professor of clinical pharmacy practice. “To address these challenges, it’s crucial to develop innovative solutions that enhance treatment strategies tailored to each person’s specific needs. By leveraging technology and the specialized knowledge of oncology pharmacists, we can help create a more equitable healthcare system.”

The study, led by oncology pharmacists, was conducted at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in Orange. A total of 250 people were enrolled: 42.4 percent of them non-Hispanic white, 30.8 percent Hispanic and 20.4 percent non-Hispanic Asian. They reported symptoms at each visit, with nausea and vomiting being the most common, followed by pain and fatigue. Results were reviewed by oncology pharmacists who provided personalized treatment and counseling, and 90 percent of the patients expressed satisfaction across all visits.

“Past studies have utilized ePRO for symptom management in cancer patients, but they were primarily implemented in mostly non-Hispanic white populations and seldom involved pharmacists,” Chan said. “By reducing language barriers, using real-time analytics and allowing pharmacists to provide timely and personalized symptom management, our approach shows the potential to facilitate patient-centered care for accurate and effective interventions, to minimize adverse effects and to improve health outcomes.”

Other team members included research specialists and graduate students from the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and pharmacists at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This work was supported by research funding from the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.

Chan has consulting or advisory roles at Blueprint Medicines, Lilly and Hengrui Medicine.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

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