Abstract P4-15-04: Strategic planning for implementing an electronic wearable device loan program for breast cancer patients in a community cancer center
Authors: Washburn Sarah , Colvin Rebecca , Kass Fredric , Howland Sam 
Published: March 2020

Purpose: The role of physical activity (PA) for breast cancer patients and survivors, including the use of electronic wearable devices (EWD), continues to be an active area of research as PA may positively impact treatment-related side effects, quality of life, recurrence risk and survival outcomes, as well as body composition and weight status. Statistically significant outcomes cannot be achieved without establishing a standardized study methodology that increases the probability that the study participants will successfully activate and wear the EWD daily for the period of the study. This pilot study aimed to report the activation (downloading app to phone, pairing EWD to phone), synchronization of the EWD to the electronic medical record (EMR) and daily use of the EWD (EMR record of daily steps) by breast cancer patients and survivors treated in a community cancer center. Data collected will help facilitate planning of an EWD loan program for economically disadvantaged patients, patients indecisive about purchasing their own EWD and for future clinical trials.

Methodology: All EWD (Fitbit™) were donated to a community cancer center for use by breast cancer patients. Twenty-nine eligible breast cancer patients and survivors were "loaned" an EWD for the 4 months study period between Oct 2017 and July 2019. All patients were provided written instructions, prepared by EMR Information Technology staff, for activation and synchronization of the EWD to the EMR. In 2019, a staff person was assigned to the study to meet participants in person to activate and synchronize the EWD with the EMR.

Results: The average age of the 28 study participants was 60 years old. Of the 21 participants who have completed the 4-month study period, 7 participants (33%) used the EWD ≥95% of the study period, 2 participants (10%) used the EWD 70-75% of the study period and 6 participants (29%) used the EWD 5-40% of the study period based on EMR data. Nine participants (43%) had EWD activation problems at study onset, 5 of these participants never successfully activated and synchronized their EWD with the EMR during the 4-month study period. A total of 6 EWD were reported lost by participants during or shortly after the study period. For the last 7 participants enrolled later in the study, a staff person was assigned to provide in-person help with activation and synchronization of the EWD and all participants successfully activated and synchronized their EWD with their EMR.

Conclusion: Implementation of an EWD loan program or clinical trial for breast cancer patients requires staff involvement to help participants properly activate and synchronize their EWD to the EMR. Staff time and cost of lost EWD should be considered in budgetary planning.

Citation Format: Sarah Washburn, Rebecca Colvin, Fredric Kass, Sam Howland. Strategic planning for implementing an electronic wearable device loan program for breast cancer patients in a community cancer center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-15-04.