Co-design of clinician-facing report and implementation pathway for a digital questionnaire for reporting head and neck cancer symptoms

Abstract

Objective This research aimed to design and evaluate a clinician-facing report generated from the SYmptom iNput Clinical (SYNC) system, a digital questionnaire for patients to report Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) symptoms and uses this to calculate a risk score. The research explored how the SYNC system could be integrated into existing hospital workflows. Materials and Methods The research comprised two studies conducted across three hospital settings. Study 1 focused on design and evaluation of the clinician-facing report, while Study 2 explored pathways for integrating the SYNC system into clinical workflows. Data collection involved six focus groups, two conducted in each hospital setting with clinicians and administrative staff involved in cancer management, to capture diverse perspectives on both the report and integration feasibility. Results Study 1 participants emphasised the need for clear and concise presentation of critical information in the report, yet there were also differing perspectives on what constituted clear and concise presentation. Study 2 participants suggested that effective integration of the SYNC system into hospital workflows would depend on ensuring that the system is user-friendly and adaptable, to help maintain clinician engagement and support better patient management. Conclusions Engaging a range of stakeholders, not just the end user, is crucial to gaining an understanding of the patient pathway and implementation challenges that may appear at each point, supporting the development of digital tools that are both functional and well-integrated into clinical workflows. This approach enhances usability and ensures the SYNC system can support the management of HNC patients.