Objective: Recently, personal health records (PHR) have become a communication tool between patients and medical professionals. PHR applications (PHR app) can be installed on smartphones to record patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This study prospectively examined whether patients with breast cancer could record PROs, including subjective and objective symptoms, on PHR app.
Materials and methods: Patients who received adjuvant hormonal therapy were enrolled. The patients were asked to collect PROs related to physical conditions, symptoms, and medications on their PHR app from the beginning of therapy for one month. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated before treatment initiation and one month after. Patients completed a questionnaire of their opinions concerning the PHR app after use.
Results: Fourteen patients were enrolled between October and December 2020. All patients could use the PHR app during the study period without any negative effects on QoL. Eleven (79%) patients fully recorded their PROs on the app. Typical side effects induced by hormonal therapy to reduce the QoL were observed (hot flash in two patients, 14.3%). The questionnaire revealed that approximately 70% wanted to use the PHR app in the future to communicate with medical staff and to report adverse events. Specifically, 90% of patients who experienced difficulty communicating with medical staff wanted to use the PHR app. Some patients wanted to utilize the PHR app to set reminders to take medications.
Conclusion: The PHR app can be applied as a communication tool between patients taking adjuvant hormonal therapy and medical professionals.
Keywords: Breast cancer; adverse event; hormonal therapy; patient reported outcome; personal health records; quality of life.
©Copyright 2022 by the the Turkish Federation of Breast Diseases Societies / European Journal of Breast Health published by Galenos Publishing House.