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Symptom Assessment in Palliative Care: A Need for International Collaboration

Stein Kaasa, Jon Håvard Loge, Peter Fayers, Augusto Caraceni, Florian Strasser, Marianne Jensen Hjermstad, Irene Higginson, Lukas Radbruch, Dagny Faksvåg Haugen

From the Pain and Palliation Research Group, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine; Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim; National Resource Centre for Studies of Long-Term Effects After Cancer, Rikshospitalet University Hospital; Department of Oncology, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, and the Regional Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care, Western Norway, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen; Palliative Care, Policy, and Rehabilitation, Weston Education Centre, London, United Kingdom; Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milano, Italy; Oncological Palliative Care, Section of Oncology/Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland; and Klinik für Palliativmedizin, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

Corresponding author: Stein Kaasa, MD, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 5 Etg, Kreftbygget, Trondheim, Norway 7006; e-mail: stein.kaasa{at}ntnu.no

This article describes the research strategy for the development of a computerized assessment tool as part of a European Union (EU)–funded project, the European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC). The EPCRC is funded through the Sixth Framework Program of the EU with major objectives to develop a computer-based assessment and classification tool for pain, depression, and cachexia. A systematic approach will be applied for the tool development with emphasis on multicultural and multilanguage challenges across Europe. The EPCRC is based on a long lasting collaboration within the European Association for Palliative Care Research Network. The ongoing change in society towards greatly increased use of communication as well as information transfer via digital systems will rapidly change the health care system. Therefore, patient-centered outcome assessment tools applicable for both clinic and research should be developed. Report of symptoms via digital media provides a start for face-to-face communication, treatment decisions, and assessment of treatment effects. The increased use of electronic media for exchange of information may facilitate the development and use of electronic assessment tools and decision-making systems in oncology. In the future, patients may find that a combination of a face-to-face interview plus a transfer of information of subjective symptoms by electronic means will optimize treatment.

Supported with Grant No. LSH-2005-2.2.0-4 from EU 6 Framework.

Authors’ disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

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