Adapting ASyMS for colorectal cancer surgery - Part 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adapting the Advanced Symptom Management System (ASyMS) to record patient symptoms and improve care following surgery for colorectal cancer (Part 2)
IRAS ID
237784
Contact name
Roma Maguire
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Strathclyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 25 days
Research summary
This 2 part study adapts an existing system - the Advanced Symptom Management System (ASyMS) - to make it fit for purpose for use by people who have had surgery for colorectal cancer. ASyMS is a mobile phone-based, remote monitoring system that has been shown to improve patients' symptoms through early detection and prompt interventions however it must be tailored to the specific needs of each clinical specialty.
Part 1, already underway (IRAS 240398), gathers patient and professional perspectives around symptoms and ideas about how best symptom information can be collected/used to enhance treatment and care. This will allow the development of a system ready for testing during Part 2 of the study.
This application refers only to Part 2 of the study which is made up of 2 consecutive phases, both of which will utilise some co-design techniques to ensure the final system reflects the needs of patients AND health professionals. The first Phase will define, refine and design the paper system that will be turned into an electronic version and explored with regards to usability and functionality in Phase 2.Both Phases will recruit patients pre-surgery. During Phase 1 patients will complete a paper symptom questionnaire daily during their in-patient stay. A member of the research study team will meet each patient prior to their discharge and, using the ‘keep, change, lose’ prompt process, will gather information about patients’ perspectives of the paper questionnaire. Thereafter, 2 focus groups/workshops will be held with patients and professionals and, through a range of participatory processes, an electronic prototype of the system will be designed. In Phase 2 patients will use the electronic prototype while in hospital and at home. Patients’ and health professionals’ perspectives will be collected during focus groups/workshops to explore the usability and functionality of this final prototype.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
18/WS/0086
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion