Development and feasibility of an intervention toward a PErsonalized Pathway for ONcology patients (PEPON) in a French healthcare organization: a mixed method research protocol

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In oncology, the care process of chronic patients needs to be personalized. This entails considering both clinical aspects and aspects directly related to personal expectations and socioeconomic status. However, designing personalized care interventions to meet each patient’s needs and demands poses an organizational problem. Therefore, the PErsonalised Pathway for ONcology patients (PEPON) -project aims to develop and evaluate an intervention to improve personalisation for oncology patient pathways.Method This protocol follows the Medical Research Council guidelines for complex intervention. It describes two phases of the PEPON project. The first phase is the design of the intervention; it involves a qualitative study in the one-day hospital (ODH) at Gustave Roussy (GR) Cancer Centre. Data collection (ongoing activity) relies on interviews with relevant professionals and patients, ODH observations, and documents. Data are coded and analysed using the “managing singularity on a large scale (GERS)” model for personalisation. This will identify areas for improvement on the current patient’s pathway, leading to the development of the intervention. The second phase is the piloting and feasibility evaluation. The intervention will be piloted and its feasibility tested on a cohort of patients passing through the ODH using a mixed method approach. Qualitative analysis will be based on interviews to investigate professionals’ experiences, observations, and documents. Quantitative analysis will be based on a comparison with a sample that did not use the intervention. Outcomes will include measures of quality of life, patient experience and patient records.Discussion Using the GERS concept, we would design a comprehensive organisational intervention to improve personalisation across the patient pathway, through the following steps: identification of patient needs and demands, design of a personalised care plan based on the existing organizations’ offers, and finally distribution of care plan. Through the pilot and feasibility phase, we will adapt the intervention to the local context before proceeding with a full-scale standardisation and implementationConclusion The results of the pilot study will inform the protocol of the randomised control trial to evaluate the intervention’s impact.