Enhancing Symptom Screening Compliance in Pediatric Cancer Patients

Context

A feasibility study examined if pediatric cancer patients can report symptoms three times a week for eight weeks. Feasibility was defined as at least 75% of patients completing at least 60% of screening reports over 8 weeks. The first group of patients did not achieve the study target with only 11/20 (55%) meeting this completion threshold.

How might we motivate patients to complete symptom screening in order to meet study feasibility?

Problem

Pediatric cancer patients in a feasibility study for three times a week symptom screening did not achieve study target of symptom screening reports over 8 weeks. 

SOLUTION

A refined patient engagement strategy which includes parents/guardians supporting children to complete their reporting.

IMPACT

Pediatric cancer patients successfully reported symptoms three times a week for eight weeks.

Company

The Hospital for Sick Children

Role

UX Researcher, Service Designer

Brief

To refine patient engagement strategy in order to improve pediatric patient symptom reporting.

Challenge Framing

PROJECT CHALLENGE 1:

Patients were less invested in the study compared to their parents.

PROJECT CHALLENGE 2:

Patients unwilling to complete symptom reports on their own.

Design Process:

Research & Discovery 

Qualitative interviews with parents and children to gauge childs’ level of ability to self-report independently. Through speaking with parents and children we learnt that parents play a pivotal role in motivating chlidren to self-report.

Ideate & Prototype

Co-create solution thinking with parent and child and design a strategy to improve pediatric patient self-reporting. This led to incorporating the following components in study onboarding: 

  • Option to send text and email reminders to parents in addition to child to complete symptom screening

  • Option for parent to assist the child in accessing the platform for completing the self-report.

Solution

A refined patient engagement strategy which includes parents/guardians supporting children to complete their reporting.

Metrics:

Activities that measured success:

  • Numbers of patients completing symptom reports

  • Measuring study feasibility

  • Parent and child self-reported satisfaction

  • Improved treatment and intervention for patients as clinicians were sent patient symptom reports

Impact

  • Mechanisms to enhance three times weekly symptom reporting were identified and successfully implemented leading to meeting study defined feasibility.