As the utilization of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) in clinical settings grows, various barriers continue to challenge patient engagement and widespread adoption. Access to technology, patients’ technological confidence, and their ability to communicate with clinicians are often cited as primary obstacles. A survey conducted among adult patients from six US health systems, who were either starting new oncology treatments or undergoing cancer-directed surgery, aimed to evaluate these aspects. This survey focused on patients’ access to technology, their confidence in using it, their comfort in asking health-related questions to clinicians, and their self-efficacy in managing symptoms.

The survey’s findings, derived from responses of 1,043 participants out of 3,212 contacted, revealed that the majority (75%) had access to patient portals and over 80% owned two or more electronic devices. Most respondents exhibited high confidence in using technology and in their ability to ask clinicians questions, with a significant correlation between higher technology confidence and greater ease in communicating with nurses about health issues. Specifically, patients with high technology confidence were four times more likely to feel comfortable discussing health concerns with nurses.

Reference: Paudel R, Tramontano AC, Cronin C, et al. Assessing Patient Readiness for an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Symptom Management Intervention in a Multisite Study. JCO Oncol Pract. 2024;20(1):77-84. doi: 10.1200/OP.23.00339.