Simultaneous assessment of targeted anticancer therapy-associated mucocutaneous adverse events.

Abstract

e20669 Background: Mucocutaneous adverse events (mcAEs), including papulopustular rash, xerosis, pruritus, paronychia, hand-foot skin reaction, edema, taste alterations, oral pain and ulceration, hair-, periungual-, and ocular changes occur in the majority of patients during targeted anticancer therapies. Different mcAEs can be present with a variable symptom burden and affect upon patients’ quality of life. Use of standardized targeted therapy specific tools allows comparison of outcomes from different studies and in meta-analyses, advancing patient care and improving outcomes. A mcAE specific assessment tool about symptom burden is currently not available. A questionnaire which assesses both targeted therapy specific patient reported outcomes (PRO) measures and healthcare provider reported outcomes (HPRO) measures is warranted, therefore. Methods: A three-phase process was utilized for item generation, item reduction and scale construction. A comprehensive literature review was performed in PubMed, CINAHL and Embase, and study protocols were screened. Keywords were assessment, questionnaire, tool, EGFRI, and rash. All items with potential relevance for the tool were selected for further evaluation. Twentyone EGFRI treated patients filled out the draft-questionnaire. Results: The search resulted in a simultaneous tool in the form of 61 PRO, and 50 HPRO items. Both tools assess experienced mcAEs inclusive number of papules and pustules, area involved, severity and duration of the symptoms, used products, effectiveness of various (medical) interventions, treatment adherence and distress from the symptoms. Patient input resulted in the addition of 1 item, modification of 7 items, and deletion of 2 items. Conclusions: A novel tool has been generated to assess the experienced mcAEs and effectiveness of supportive care interventions. Since the patient and the provider report mcAEs simultaneously, the provided data are directly comparable, facilitating assessment of quality of life and, therefore, improving quality of medical care.