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Research Paper: Effects of a Computerized System to Support Shared Decision Making in Symptom Management of Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results

OBJECTIVE
(1) To evaluate preliminary effects of a computerized support system on congruence between patients' reported symptoms and preferences and those addressed in the patient consultation and (2) to investigate the system's ease of use, time requirements, and patient satisfaction.


DESIGN
Fifty-two patients were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions.


MEASUREMENTS
Cancer patients scheduled for an outpatient visit used the system on a tablet computer to report their symptoms and preferences prior to their consultation. This information was processed, printed, and provided to the patient and clinician in the subsequent consultation in the experimental group but not in the control group.


RESULTS
While patients in both groups were equivalent at baseline in symptom characteristics, there was significantly greater congruence between patients' reported symptoms and those addressed by their clinicians in the experimental group. The system scored high on ease of use. There were no significant group differences in patient satisfaction.


CONCLUSION
This study provided beginning evidence that eliciting patients' symptoms and preferences and providing clinicians with this information prior to consultation can be an effective and feasible strategy to improve patient-centered care.