Development and use of a web application for monitoring complications of radiation therapy in cancer patients and analysis of its effectiveness

The treatment of cancer patients is multidisciplinary. Cancer treatment is based on the use of different modalities such as surgery, radiation and systemic therapy. Treatment complications are a burden for both the patient and the healthcare system. Effective identification of complications during treatment is an essential factor that allows action and prevention of treatment side effects and leads to quality patient care. Patient surveys using using standardized questionnaires have been used in medicine for decades and have recently been implemented in electronical form. There are several telemedicine services available in Slovenia, but none in the field of oncological treatment of patients during radiation therapy. The advantage of telemedicine is that it is more comfortable and faster for the patient, with a higher response rate of patients, and it allows healthcare workers to optimise their work procedures and improve the quality of service. 

By creating a web-based tool, we aim to enhance all aspects of treatment, including communication with patients during radiation therapy. Patients will report on the side effects and their quality of life by filling in standardised questionnaires. The answers received would be classified into three groups, which would be the basis for action: green no problems, yellow problems of G :s: 1, red problems G 􀁊 2. Patients in the red group would be referred for an early outpatient check-up, those in yellow group would be followed up more frequently, and those in the green group would be followed up at the end of treatment and at regular outpatient check-ups. The aim is to reduce unnecessary outpatient check-ups, to relieve the burden on healthcare workers, and to save patients' time.