Pilot Study of a Symptom Monitoring Intervention for Hospitalized Patients With Cancer

Patients with cancer may experience a considerable symptom burden, often requiring
hospitalizations for symptom management. This study will pilot test an electronic symptom
monitoring intervention, "Improving Management of Patient-Reported Outcomes Via Electronic
Data (IMPROVED)," versus usual care in hospitalized patients with cancer.

The goal of this study is test a model where patients' symptoms are monitored during their
hospital admission electronically via tablet computers. The investigators are studying
whether patients whose clinicians receive their patients' detailed symptom reports each day
have improved symptom management compared to those whose clinicians do not receive their
patients' detailed symptom reports each day.

The study takes place at Massachusetts General Hospital and involves participating in a study
for as long as the participants are admitted to the hospital. The information the
investigators collect will help them determine if electronic symptom monitoring improves the
care of patients with cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 18 or older

- Diagnosed with incurable cancer (defined as receiving treatment with palliative intent
as per chemotherapy order entry designation, trial consent forms, or not receiving
chemotherapy but followed for incurable disease as per oncology clinic notes)

- Admitted to Lunder at Massachusetts General Hospital

- Verbal fluency in English

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unwilling or unable to participate in the study

- Admitted electively

- Participated during a previous admission