UT-IKNL: Symptom monitoring with an app and a Fitbit to optimize metastatic breast cancer care: patients’ experiences
Type of assignment: MA
Internal or external?: internal but with the possibility to work at the IKNL office
Maximum number of students: 1-2
Individual collecting of data? Yes
Type of research: qualitative (interviews)
The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL) is the national knowledge institute for oncological care and research. IKNL collects and analyses data on cancer and works to improve the quality of oncological care in the Netherlands.
IKNL and UT collaborate in the SYMPHA trial. In this large scale study we examine the value of electronic symptom monitoring with an app and a Fitbit in patients with metastatic breast cancer in 28 Dutch hospitals. Treatment options for patients with metastatic breast cancer are aimed at prolonging survival while preserving quality of life (QoL). Current systemic therapies (such as chemotherapy), however, are often associated with severe symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea that impair QoL. Therefore, it is of major importance to early detect and manage these symptoms. Here you can find more information in Dutch: SYMPHA - Profielstudie.nl.
The SYMPHA trial started about a year ago. Currently about 50 patients are participating. For this master assignment you will conduct interviews with participating patients to explore how they use the symptom monitoring app and/or Fitbit, what they find helpful or not, and whether the data supports conversations with their healthcare professionals. Your findings may guide implementation of electronic symptom monitoring tools into routine cancer care.
Who are we looking for?
A student with:
- affinity with conducting interviews and qualitative data analysis;
- empathy towards patients living with an incurable disease;
- fluency in Dutch (spoken and written);
- good communication and organizational skills.
What are we offering?
- You may work from home or from the UT, but you are also welcome to work at the IKNL office (near train station Utrecht and Enschede). The interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams or by telephone.
- You may attend and present your findings at SYMPHA project group meetings. Hence, you can experience working in a multidisciplinary research environment with direct relevance to patient care.
More information?:
Name: Lois Folkert (or ask Stans Drossaert)
Email: l.folkert@IKNL.NL
Supervisor: Stans Drossaert and Lois Folkert