ArticleJMIR formative research2026
Smart Pediatric Oncology Tracker of Symptoms (SPOTS), a Web-Based Interface for the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE: Development and Usability Study.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChildren undergoing cancer treatment experience a range of treatment-related toxicities that significantly affect quality of life and adherence to therapy. Current methods for symptom reporting rely heavily on clinician interpretation of caregiver or child verbal reports, which can result in incomplete or inaccurate records. The Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Pediatric PRO-CTCAE; National Cancer Institute) provides a validated mechanism for direct symptom reporting by children and caregivers, yet its traditional administration and preselection of questions limit the breadth of symptom capture.
objectiveThis research aimed to co-design and conduct formative usability testing of the Smart Pediatric Oncology Tracker of Symptoms (SPOTS), a novel, web-based interface for the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE to allow children with cancer and their caregivers to comprehensively report symptoms.
methodsThe research comprised 2 sequential phases: co-design and usability testing. Guided by child-computer interaction theory and participatory design methods, child-caregiver dyads collaborated with the research team to iteratively design and refine the SPOTS prototype. Nine participant dyads engaged in up to 3 co-design sessions that informed system features, layout, and content. During the usability phase, 12 additional dyads (6 with children aged 7-12 years and 6 with adolescents aged 13-17 years, each with a caregiver) completed structured usability tasks using the SPOTS prototype. Task completion, pathway efficiency, and user feedback were recorded through screen capture, field notes, and think-aloud protocols. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative feedback was analyzed thematically.
resultsSPOTS was described by users as "very clear" and "easy to navigate." Participants valued the visual design, the use of a customizable character, and the opportunity for children to report symptoms independently. Key usability challenges included confusing terminology, navigation redundancy, and visual complexities. Quantitative task analyses indicated that while most structured tasks were completed successfully, many required excess steps or assistance. When not directed to use a specific screen, participants' symptom reporting methods varied, with caregivers and adolescents preferring the Body Parts Screen and younger children favoring the Search Screen.
conclusionsThe formative development of SPOTS demonstrates the feasibility and value of co-designing pediatric health technologies directly with children and caregivers. SPOTS has the potential to enhance the implementation of the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE by offering an engaging, child-friendly digital format that facilitates more direct symptom reporting. Future work will include a pilot study to further assess real-world usability, the quality of symptom capture (ie, completeness and accuracy), and integration with clinical workflows.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.