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Purpose: To investigate the use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to assess symptoms and how they can provide opportunities to clinicians to address symptoms in a timely manner to improve clinical care. As part of a larger study to evaluate whether providing standardized symptom reports to the medical team would decrease the time to treatment of reported symptoms in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients, we assessed nurses’ and providers’ perceptions of electronic symptom reporting. Methods: Semistructured interviews of RNs, MDs, NPs and PAs were conducted at an academic cancer center in the southeastern United States. Nurses’ and providers’ perceptions of electronic symptom reporting were explored. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded by two investigators to identify major themes. Results: Fourteen RNs and seven providers (MDs, PAs, and NPs) participated in the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: electronic symptom reporting may improve assessment and care, integrating symptom reporting into nurse workflow presents difficulties, and there are barriers for completion of surveys. Conclusion: The majority of nurses and providers believed that the inclusion of electronic symptom reporting in bone marrow transplantation inpatient units has the potential to improve care but that barriers to implementation remain.

Purpose: Patients undergoing a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) have varied symptoms during their hospitalization. This study examined whether daily symptom reporting (with electronic patient-reported outcomes [PROs]) in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced symptom burden on post-transplant days +7, +10, and +14. Methods: A prospective, single-institution1:1 pilot randomized, two-arm study recruited HCT patients. HCT inpatients (N=76) reported daily on 16 common symptoms using the PRO version of the Common Terminology for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). Fisher���s exact test was used to examine differences in the proportion of patients reporting individual symptoms. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to examine group differences in peak symptom burden, while controlling for symptom burden at baseline, age, comorbidity, and transplantation type (autologous or allogeneic). Results: HCT patients receiving the PRO intervention also experienced lower peak symptom burden (average of 16 symptoms) at days +7, +10, and +14 (10.4 vs 14.5, p =0.03). Conclusions: Daily use of electronic symptom reporting to nurses in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced peak symptom burden and improved individual symptoms during the two weeks post-transplant. A multi-site site trial is warranted to demonstrate the generalizability, efficacy, and value of this intervention.

There is limited research focused on patient reported fatigue symptom experiences in adults receiving treatment for acute leukemia. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine fatigue in newly diagnosed adults with acute leukemia receiving induction chemotherapy. Weekly assessments captured fatigue using PROMIS measures. Data were analyzed using linear mixed modeling and adaptive regression modeling. Forty-nine adults with acute leukemia completed assessments from hospitalization through discharge. Mean age was 53 years, 18% minority, and majority had a diagnosis of AML (72%). Average length of stay was 34.8 (SD 14.0) days. Mean baseline fatigue (57.8; mean score in US population is 50 with SD 10) was not statistically significant but there were minimally important differences. Adults over 50 with acute leukemia experienced greater fatigue during hospitalization than those

Introduction. Fatigue is a distressing symptom for adults with acute leukemia, often impeding their ability to exercise. Objectives. 1) Examine effects of a 4-week mixed-modality supervised exercise program (4 times a week, twice a day) on fatigue in adults with acute leukemia undergoing induction chemotherapy. 2) Evaluate effects of exercise program on cognition, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. 3) Evaluate effect of intervention on adherence to exercise. Methods. 17 adults (8 intervention, 9 control), aged 28-69 years, newly diagnosed with acute leukemia were recruited within 4 days of admission for induction treatment. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (fatigue, cognition, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, mental health, and physical health) and fitness performance-based measures (Timed Up and Go [TUG], Karnofsky Performance Status, and composite strength scoring) were assessed at baseline and at discharge. Changes in PRO and performance-based physical function measures from baseline to time of discharge were compared between groups using Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Results. With PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Fatigue, we found a median change in fatigue (−5.95) for the intervention group, which achieved a minimally important difference that is considered clinically relevant. Intervention group reduced their TUG performance by 1.73 seconds, whereas the control group remained fairly stable. A concerning finding was that cognition decreased for both groups during their hospitalization. 80% adherence of visits completed with a mean of 6 sessions attended per week. Conclusions. Our study provides information on the impact of exercise on symptomatology, with focus on fatigue and other psychosocial variables in acute leukemia.

72 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet many patients with HCC never receive cancer-directed therapy, for reasons that are not well documented. In order to tailor interventions to increase access to appropriate therapy, it is critical to understand the barriers and facilitators to access to care and receipt of treatment in HCC. Methods: This study includes 10 patients with HCC, within 6 months of diagnosis, identified through either the University of North Carolina (UNC) multidisciplinary HCC clinic or the UNC Rapid Case Ascertainment (RCA) Core which identifies cancer patients through registrars at local hospitals. Recruitment is ongoing with a target of 20 patients, expected to complete in July 2018. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by two qualitative researchers. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and coded independently by two coders, using a common codebook. Coding discrepancies were reconciled by consensus. Results: Most participants described that they had been incidentally diagnosed with HCC during evaluation for another health issue. Key facilitators of care were: physician knowledge about HCC; clear, honest, and timely communication regarding test results, plan of care, and prognosis; access to transportation; strong social support; and financial support through friends, family, insurance, or charity care. Barriers to care included: lack of transportation; delays in receipt of information or in scheduling appointments; or poor communication with the medical team. Conclusions: This study identifies key facilitators and barriers to accessing care for HCC in North Carolina (NC). Further investigation of a broader sample of HCC patients is warranted, and the qualitative data from this study will be used to create a survey to be administered to all patients with incident HCC in NC. Ultimately, this information will serve as the basis for tailored interventions aimed at improving access to appropriate, life-prolonging care for patients with HCC.

10038 Background: Limitations in functional status and reduced health status are common among older adults with cancer, yet occupational and physical therapy (OT/PT) remain underutilized (Pergolotti, et.al. JGO,2015). For this population, we evaluated an outpatient CAncer REhabilitation (CARE) program and compared it to usual care (UC). Methods: We recruited adults 65 years and older who had a diagnosis of cancer or recurrence within 5 years and had at least one functional limitation as measured by a geriatric assessment (GA). Participants were then randomized to OT/PT (CARE) or UC. CARE delivered individualized outpatient intervention; OT addressed functional activities, and PT strength/endurance needs. UC participants received a brochure on supportive care services. Primary outcome was functional status (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale [NEADL] (range 0-22)) and secondary outcomes were global Mental and Physical Health, and ability to participate in Social Roles (SR) and activities (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS] (range 0-100)), for all measures, higher scores indicate better health. We used t-tests to compare groups. Results: 51 adults were randomized: median age 73 years, 55% male, 92% White, 33% with Leukemia/lymphoma, 26% Breast, 22% Colorectal, 67% in active treatment, and 37% with Stage 3 or 4. After 3 months, both groups experienced a significant decline in functional status ( p = .046; p = .005), but change in functional status (-1.5 UC, -1.1 CARE, p = .637) , physical health status (0.0 UC, 2.4 CARE, p = .121) and participation in SR (.11 in UC, 3.71 CARE, p = .088) between UC and CARE were not significant. However, change in mental health (-1.0 in UC, 3.0 CARE, p= .032) significantly different between groups. Conclusions: CARE was associated with a significant improvement in participant’s mental health status compared to a decline in UC. Results suggest CARE may influence ability to participate in social roles and activities and physical health, but further study is needed with larger sample sizes. We demonstrated that for older adults with cancer, OT/PT are promising interventions to improve mental health. Clinical trial information: NCT02306252.