New Assessment System in Measuring Symptom Distress in Cancer Patients

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To examine how the MD Anderson Inventory (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory [MDASI]) or other
MD Anderson-developed patient reported outcome (PRO) instrument performs in various sample
populations including community dwelling adults and patients who have different cancer types,
who have undergone various treatments, and who have different and/or more severe symptoms.

II. To evaluate the MDASI or other MD Anderson-developed PRO instrument as an estimate of
functional status and quality of life.

III. To assess the impact of symptom severity on standard function and health-related quality
of life measures, including both quantitative and qualitative measures (patient interviews).

IV. To assess the pattern and severity of symptoms over multiple time points in order to
assay the system's responsiveness to changes due to therapy or disease.

V. To explore the utility of an interactive voice response (IVR) system in enhancing the
clinical care of outpatients.

VI. To explore the effect of information from an IVR symptom assessment system on the pattern
of care and development of interdisciplinary protocols.

VII. To explore the feasibility of developing symptom management pathways for patients based
on these symptom and quality of life data.

OUTLINE:

Participants complete questionnaires and quality of life assessments, and may also complete
interviews over 45 minutes periodically.

Inclusion Criteria:

- NORMAL SAMPLES: Community dwelling adults 18 years of age or older

- PATIENT SAMPLES: Inpatients and outpatients 18 years of age or older, being followed
at UT MD Anderson

- EXPERT PANEL PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPANTS: Physician or other healthcare provider with at
least 5 years of experience caring for patients with the disease and/or treatment of
interest, at least one publication in the last 5 years dealing with the disease and/or
treatment of interest (physician only), ability to speak and read English, consent to
participate

- EXPERT PANEL FAMILY CAREGIVERS PARTICIPANTS: Identification as a family caregiver by
patient enrolled as expert panel participant with the disease and/or treatment of
interest, 18 years of age or older, ability to speak and read English, consent to
participate

- EXPERT PANEL PATIENT PARTICIPANTS: Patient with identified family caregiver
participating on Expert Panel, willingness to receive packet for expert panel
participation

Exclusion Criteria:

- EXPERT PANEL PATIENT PARTICIPANTS: Patient with identified family caregiver
participating on expert panel, willingness to receive packet for expert panel
participation