Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

A pilot study of an accelerometer-equipped smartphone to monitor older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy in Mexico

2017; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jgo.2017.09.008

1879-4076

Enrique Soto‐Pérez‐de‐Celis, Heeyoung Kim, María Patricia Rojo-Castillo, Can-Lan Sun, Yanin Chavarri-Guerra, Ana Patricia Navarrete‐Reyes, James Waisman, José Alberto Ávila‐Funes, Álvaro Aguayo, Arti Hurria,

Lymphatic System and Diseases

Abstract Objectives Older adults with cancer in developing countries face challenges accessing healthcare due to a lack of personnel and infrastructure. A decline in physical activity (defined as a decrease in the number of daily steps) may be a novel method for the timely detection of toxicity in older adults receiving chemotherapy in resource-constrained settings. Materials and Methods In this feasibility study, patients aged ≥65years starting first-line chemotherapy for solid tumors were given a smartphone with a pedometer application. Daily steps were monitored daily for one cycle. If a ≥15% decrease from baseline was identified, the patient was called and the presence of toxicity assessed. The intervention would be feasible if ≥75% of the subjects recorded steps for ≥75% of the planned chemotherapy days. Results Forty patients (median age 73; 57% [N=23] female) were included. Seventy percent (N=28) had stage III-IV disease with 45% (N=18) gastrointestinal, 23% (N=9) breast, and 32% (N=13) other malignancies. Mean pre-treatment daily steps was 3111 (Standard Deviation [SD] 1731), and median follow-up was 21days (range 2–28). Despite having limited exposure to mobile technology, most (93%) patients used the smartphone appropriately, and 85% found it easy to use. Sixty percent of patients (N=24) had toxicities managed over the phone, 27.5% (N=10) were sent for urgent medical attention and 15% (N=6) were hospitalized. Conclusion Using smartphones to monitor older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy in a resource-constrained setting is feasible and acceptable. A decrease in the number of daily steps was common and helped to identify chemotherapy toxicity.