Feasibility and acceptability of remote symptom monitoring (RSM) in older adults during treatment for metastatic prostate cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging data support multiple benefits of remote symptom monitoring (RSM) during chemotherapy to improve outcomes. However, these studies have not focused on older adults and do not include treatments beyond chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy, androgen receptor axis-targeted therapies (ARATs), and radium-223 prolong survival, toxicities are substantial and increased in older adults with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC). We aimed to assess RSM feasibility among older adults receiving life-prolonging mPC treatments.

Materials and methods: Older adults aged 65+ starting chemotherapy, an ARAT, or radium-223 for mPC were enrolled in a multicentre prospective cohort study. As part of the RSM package, participants completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) daily and detailed questionnaires assessing mood, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and pain weekly online or by phone throughout one treatment cycle (3-4 weeks). Alerts were sent to the clinical oncology team for severe symptoms (ESAS ≥7). Participants also completed an end of study questionnaire that assessed study burden and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were used to determine recruitment and retention rates, participant response rates to daily and weekly questionnaires, clinician responses to alerts, and participant satisfaction rates. An inductive descriptive approach was used to categorize open-ended responses about study benefits, challenges, and recommendations into relevant themes.

Results: Ninety males were included (mean age 77 years, 48% ARAT, 38% chemotherapy, and 14% radium-223). Approximately 38% of patients preferred phone-based RSM. Patients provided RSM responses in 1216 out of 1311 daily questionnaires (93%). Over 93% of participants were satisfied (36%), very satisfied (43%), or extremely satisfied (16%) with RSM, although daily reporting was reported by several (8%) as burdensome. Nearly 45% of patients reported severe symptoms during RSM. Most symptom alerts sent to the oncology care team were acknowledged (97%) and 53% led to follow-ups with a nurse or physician for additional care.

Discussion: RSM is feasible and acceptable to older adults with mPC, but accommodation needs to be made for phone-based RSM. The optimal frequency and duration of RSM also needs to be established.

Keywords: Metastatic prostate cancer; Older adults; Remote symptom monitoring; Supportive care.