ePAQ-GTD: A Gestational Trophoblastic Disease-Specific Electronic PROM Tool

A gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD)-specific electronic patient reported outcome measure (PROM) instrument, the ePAQ-GTD, was a relevant and acceptable tool, according to study results presented in a European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) session at the ESMO Congress 2023.

An individualized PROM instrument can be useful in identifying and prioritizing health concerns among specific patient groups. As such, a nurse-led team sought to develop a PROM tool for patients with GTD, which is a rare pregnancy complication that can progress into cancer.

Beginning in January 2020, a virtual nurse-led clinic that included the ePAQ-GTD was offered to all patients with GTD at a center in the United Kingdom. In this study, feedback responses during a qualitative interview conducted in 2022 to 2023 about the ePAQ-GTD were assessed using thematic analysis of responses from 15 patients and 3 nurses.

The patients engaged with the ePAQ-GTD at human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) screening (n=5) or during chemotherapy (n=10). Among all patients, 60% engaged with the ePAQ-GTD throughout their GTD care pathway.

In the thematic analysis, the ePAQ-GTD was found to be a valid, relevant, and acceptable tool. The patients indicated that its specific questions allowed them to broach sensitive topics about mental health, sex, and intimacy. Together, these themes spoke to how comprehensive the ePAQ-GTD was.

The nurse participants thought the ePAQ-GTD improved communication, empowerment, and decision making when caring for their patients.

The limitations of this study included its small sample size and the potential for researcher or participant bias.

Jane Ireson, clinical nurse specialist and NIHR doctoral fellow of Western Park Cancer Centre in the UK and presenter of the study, concluded that the ePAQ-GTD demonstrated content validity and was a meaningful communication tool. The ePAQ-GTD empowered families in a virtual nurse-led platform and facilitated service improvement.

Reference

Ireson J, Holch T, Singh K, et al. Integrating an electronic patient reported outcome measure (ePROM) into a nurse-led rare cancer pathway. Presented at ESMO Congress 2023. October 20-24, 2023. Madrid, Spain. Abstract CN1.