Implementing REmote SymPtom mOnitoring and maNagement (RESPONd)
Canada1,055 participantsStarted 2025-05-16
Plain-language summary
The goal of this study is to understand if the implementation of a remote symptom monitoring and management program improves outcomes. The program will provide patients the opportunity to complete electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) questionnaires from home between appointments and receive tailored advice from a study nurse. A second goal of this study is to examine the impact of electronic symptom monitoring on clinic efficiencies.
The main question it aims to answer is:
• What impact does implementing digitally enabled remote symptom monitoring and management (RESPONd) between ambulatory oncology visits have on patient outcomes and system efficiencies?
Participants will:
* Report their symptoms and concerns from home by completing the electronic symptom monitoring questionnaire.
* Discuss their symptoms and concerns with a study nurse.
* Provide feedback about their experience at important timepoints during the study.
* Participate as usual in ambulatory clinic appointments.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥ 18
* Have cancer
* Receiving care in one of the participating clinics.
* Able to sign up for MyAHS Connect and consent.
* Have access to a digital device at home
* Able to complete their electronic PROs questionnaire without support from the clinic team on a weekly (patients on active treatment) or monthly (patients on follow-up) basis, for the duration of the intervention or until they are discharged from the clinic.
* Regular access to a telephone in order for the study nurse to call patients to provide symptom management support.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with cognitive disabilities or who cannot reliably report symptoms independently.
* Patients not residing in Alberta, as government-issued ID is required to register for MyAHS Connect.
* Patients who do not have regular access to a telephone, as the study nurse needs to be able to call patients to provide symptom management support.
* Patients who do not speak English, or who do not have an English-speaking friend, family member, or caregiver to assist them, as the electronic PROs questionnaire is only available in English at this time.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Quality of Life (QoL)
Timeframe: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
2
Self-rated health
Timeframe: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months
3
Rate of Emergency department (ED) visits
Timeframe: Baseline through study completion, an average of 18 months
4
Rate of Hospital admissions
Timeframe: Baseline through study completion, an average of 18 months
5
Economic outcome measure - Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)
Timeframe: Baseline through study completion, an average of 18 months
6
Economic outcome measures - Quality adjusted life years (QUALYs)
Timeframe: Baseline through study completion, an average of 18 months