Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing Site-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measure in Head and Neck Cancer Clinics: A Prospective Institutional Study

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory–Head and Neck (MDASI-HN) module in cancer clinics and its effect on patient-reported experience. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study at a tertiary cancer institution between September 2020 and August 2021. Patients with newly diagnosed head and neck (HN) cancer who were evaluated to receive radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy and could communicate in English were approached to participate. The primary outcome was feasibility and acceptability of the MDASI-HN implementation in the radiation oncology department assessed by patient and provider exit surveys. Secondary outcomes were patient-reported experience as recorded by a shortened Your Voice Matters survey (YVM) in 2 cohorts pre- and post-MDASI-HN implementation and symptom scores. Descriptive statistics were used for exit surveys and symptom scores. Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess differences in positive responses between pre- and postimplementation for each YVM question. Cochrane-Armitage tests were used to examine changes in patient-reported experience over time. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were enrolled in the postimplementation cohort and 29 (60%) responded to the exit survey. Eighty-nine percent of patients reported that MDASI-HN made it easier to remember symptoms, and 86% recommend its use in routine care. Four of the 5 radiation oncology HN providers (80%) responded to exit surveys; 75% felt the MDASI-HN provided clinically relevant information, improved communication with patients, and did not increase clinic time. The overall patient-reported experience was not affected by the implementation (P = .82). The probability of positive responses over time was significant (P = .025) in the clinic coordination domain for the postimplementation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of MDASI-HN was feasible and acceptable by patients and providers. Although the overall patient-reported experience was not affected by implementation, some aspects improved as treatment progressed.