The tool, developed by The University of Washington, Distributed Health Assessment and Intervention Research (DHAIR) group was translated into Chinese. The adapted web-based survey platform, the Electronic Self Report Assessment – Cancer (ESRA-C), was tested in a local cancer resource center in Hong Kong. Participants’ perceptions of the acceptability and feasibility of the symptom assessment process were assessed using the Acceptability E-scale as well as observation and qualitative interview data. Demographic data were also collected through the touch screen computer system. A convenience sample of 30 (11 male and 19 female) oncology patients was recruited to use the touch-screen computer to assess participants’ symptoms using ESRA-C.
The acceptability scale indicated moderately high acceptability in each subscale (mean score of 3.32–4.71). On average, participants took 17.5 min (SD: 8.9) to complete the ESRA-C. The qualitative interview data revealed that the majority (25 participants) asserted that the ESRA-C was useful and effective in reporting personal health conditions.
The study suggested that electronic assessment can offer a feasible, attractive, and viable means of implementing regular and comprehensive symptom assessment, which can lead to better symptom management in cancer patients.