Chemotherapy side-effect management using mobile phones

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2008:2008:5152-5. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2008.4650374.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major health problem in developed countries, accounting for a significant proportion of deaths in the population. Advances in chemotherapy treatment have led to therapy being delivered in the home-setting, which presents challenges in ensuring that treatment-related side-effects are detected and reported to clinical staff in an appropriate time-frame. A telemedicine system has been developed using a mobile-phone platform to allow patients to complete symptom diaries which trigger alerts paged to their nurse in the event of severe side-effects. Six patients used this system for two cycles of oral chemotherapy. Two cases of moderate symptoms deteriorating to more severe conditions were observed, and individual self-care and treatment advice were presented to these patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / organization & administration*
  • Aged
  • Capecitabine
  • Cell Phone*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / complications
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Deoxycytidine / adverse effects
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • England
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Remote Consultation / methods*

Substances

  • Deoxycytidine
  • Capecitabine
  • Fluorouracil