A study looking at a system using mobile phones to help people cope with side effects of radiotherapy for lung cancer (ASyMS-R)

Please note this trial is no longer recruiting patients.

This study is looking at a new way of managing symptoms and side effects when people are having radiotherapy for lung cancer.

Doctors often use radiotherapy to treat lung cancer. This type of treatment, can cause side effects that may affect people’s quality of life. And the cancer itself can also cause symptoms. Most people have radiotherapy as an outpatient, which means they have to cope with any symptoms and side effects while they are at home.

At the moment, there is not a standard way of keeping an eye on people during radiotherapy to see if they have any symptoms or side effects.

In this study, researchers are developing a new system which uses mobile phones to send information about symptoms directly to a computer. The computer then alerts a doctor or nurse at the hospital if someone having symptoms at home needs help. The system is called ‘Advanced Symptom Management System – Radiotherapy’ (ASyMS-R)

The study is in 2 parts, and the aims are to

Develop the system by involving patients and health care professionals
See how a small group of people get on using the system

Please note – There is no direct benefit from taking part in this study, but the findings may help other people having radiotherapy for lung cancer.

Recruitment

Start 17/11/2009

End 12/11/2010

Phase

Other

Who can enter

You can enter this trial if you

Have lung cancer and are having radiotherapy (you can join the first part of this trial if you have recently finished radiotherapy)
Are able to read and write English
Are at least 18 years old

Trial design

There are 2 parts to this study. In part 1, the study team will look at how symptoms are assessed at the moment. They will do this by sending a survey to radiotherapy doctors around the country. This will ask doctors how they assess their patients’ symptoms and side effects, and how often they do this.

The researchers will also look at research studies to learn more about the symptoms and side effects people with lung cancer have during radiotherapy. Then they will develop a questionnaire specifically for people having radiotherapy.

Also in part 1, the study team will ask 15 to 20 people to take part in 2 focus groups. One will be in England and one in Scotland. In a focus group, you and up to 10 other people will answer questions about symptoms you had during radiotherapy. You will also be asked about advice you have had from your healthcare team. The group will then discuss the type of questions and advice that would be useful in the new system.

Part 2 of the study will involve 45 people at 6 hospitals around the UK. If you agree to take part, the study team will give you a mobile phone and show you how to use it. They will also give you a diary to write down any problems you have using the phone. You will have a booklet with instructions and telephone numbers of people to contact if you have any problems using the system.

During the study you will complete a short questionnaire on the screen of the mobile phone

Each day during your radiotherapy treatment
Every day for a month after it finishes

The study team will ask some people to complete a questionnaire each week for 2 months after this.

The questionnaire on the screen will ask about any symptoms or side effects you have. This information is sent to a computer to be analysed. If you report anything that is cause for concern, the computer alerts a member of the healthcare team at the hospital. They will contact you if they think that will help. You will also receive information via the mobile phone screen about things you can do yourself to help manage the symptoms or side effects.

At the end of the study, the researchers may interview you to ask how you got on using the mobile phone system.

All the information collected during the study is confidential. The information you send via the mobile phone cannot be read by anyone apart from the doctors and nurses looking after you and the study team.

Hospital visits

If you take part in one of the focus groups, it will take between half an hour and an hour.

If you use the new mobile phone system, this will take a few minutes each time you fill in the questionnaire. And you may go to hospital to take part in a short interview. This will take no longer than 45 minutes.

Side effects

There are no side effects from taking part in this study. If you find that discussing your symptoms or side effects is upsetting, you can talk to your doctor or nurse.