Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39499557›Full record

ArticleJMIR cancer2024

Uncovering the Daily Experiences of People Living With Advanced Cancer Using an Experience Sampling Method Questionnaire: Development, Content Validation, and Optimization Study.

Joran Geeraerts, Lara Pivodic, Lise Rosquin, Eline Naert, Geert Crombez, Mark De Ridder, Lieve Van den Block

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A comparison of in-the-moment and retrospective patient-reported outcome measures in advanced cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Observational
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Joran GeeraertsEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-5658-5544
Lara PivodicEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-8825-3699
Lise RosquinEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0009-0009-9510-581X
Eline NaertDepartment of Medical Oncology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1508-7263
Geert CrombezDepartment of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-4744-8561
Mark De RidderTranslational Radiation Oncology, Physics and Supportive Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-4433-8807
Lieve Van den BlockEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-7770-348X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe experience sampling method (ESM), a self-report method that typically uses multiple assessments per day, can provide detailed knowledge of the daily experiences of people with cancer, potentially informing oncological care. The use of the ESM among people with advanced cancer is limited, and no validated ESM questionnaires have been developed specifically for oncology.

objectiveThis study aims to develop, content validate, and optimize the digital Experience Sampling Method for People Living With Advanced Cancer (ESM-AC) questionnaire, covering multidimensional domains and contextual factors.

methodsA 3-round mixed methods study was designed in accordance with the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer guidelines. The study included semistructured interviews with 43 people with stage IV breast cancer or stage III to IV lung cancer and 8 health care professionals. Round 1 assessed the appropriateness, relative importance, relevance, and comprehensiveness of an initial set of ESM items that were developed based on the existing questionnaires. Round 2 tested the comprehensibility of ESM items. Round 3 tested the usability of the digital ESM-AC questionnaire using the m-Path app. Analyses included descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.

resultsFollowing the first round, we developed an initial core set of 68 items (to be used with all patients) and a supplementary set (optional; patients select items), both covering physical, psychological, social, spiritual-existential, and global well-being domains and concurrent contexts in which experiences occur. We categorized items to be assessed multiple times per day as momentary items (eg, "At this moment, I feel tired"), once a day in the morning as morning items (eg, "Last night, I slept well"), or once a day in the evening as evening items (eg, "Today, I felt hopeful"). We used participants' evaluations to optimize the questionnaire items, the digital app, and its onboarding manual. This resulted in the ESM-AC questionnaire, which comprised a digital core questionnaire containing 31 momentary items, 2 morning items, and 7 evening items and a supplementary set containing 39 items. Participants largely rated the digital questionnaire as "easy to use," with an average score of 4.5 (SD 0.5) on a scale from 1 ("completely disagree") to 5 ("completely agree").

conclusionsWe developed the ESM-AC questionnaire, a content-validated digital questionnaire for people with advanced breast or lung cancer. It showed good usability when administered on smartphone devices. Future research should evaluate the potential of this ESM tool to uncover daily experiences of people with advanced breast or lung cancer, explore its clinical utility, and extend its validation to other populations with advanced diseases.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAdultAgedBreast NeoplasmsFemaleHumansLung NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedReproducibility of ResultsSelf ReportSurveys and Questionnairescancerecological momentary assessmenteHealthexperience sampling methodmHealthpatient outcome assessmentquality of lifetelemedicinevalidated instruments

Identifiers

PMID39499557
PMCPMC11576598

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.