Improving Patient/Family Self-monitoring for Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10816
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58060:Clinical nursing-related
• Research Institution: Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Hiroyuki 静岡県立静岡がんセンター(研究所), その他部局等, 研究員 (00581175)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: がん免疫治薬物療法 / 有害事象 / 患者・家族 / セルフモニタリング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study was to identify symptoms specific to irAE and to indicate them in patient/family expressions. Subjective information in the electronic medical records of 78 patients from the start of treatment with ICI to the diagnosis of irAE was collected and subjected to quantitative text analysis with KH Coder.
The specific symptoms included dry mouth/blurred vision/elevated blood glucose for type 1 diabetes, poor vision for hypopituitarism, heavy eyelids/hard to lift legs/double vision for myositis, internal bleeding spots/earache/glans pain for vasculitis, lower blood loss for enteritis, sweating for fever, skin rash/urticaria/dry skin/itching/blisters/eye redness for skin disorders, stagger/vertigo/dizziness/loss of consciousness for adrenal insufficiency.
The specific expressions of patient/family obtained from the subjective information on the extracted symptoms were summarized, and a chart was prepared for patient explanation.

Free Research Field

がん看護

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の特徴は、患者・家族が感じるirAEの「いつもと違う」に着目した点である。「いつもと違うと感じたら連絡して」と指導されることが多いが、具体的でないため些細な症状に気づきにくく、「いつもと違う」と感じても遠慮から受診や施設への電話相談が遅れることがある。患者・家族の表現で具体化することでセルフモニタリング感度向上に寄与し、より早くirAEの対処に繋げられると考える。成果物は、運用中のがん薬物療法説明書（https://www.scchr.jp/information-prescription.html）へ活用し、多くの患者・家族が利用できるようHPで公開予定である。