New screening tool for the assessment of cognitive symptoms in patients with cancer

Together with researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital - AvL), UG, University of Twente, UMC Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC, UvA, and software company Eyra Leap B.V, Muirne Paap has been awarded funding by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) for the development of an adaptive screening tool for the assessment of cognitive symptoms in patients with cancer.

Many cancer patients experience cognitive symptoms, such as those resulting from the treatment they receive. In order to accurately understand these symptoms and provide appropriate care, a comprehensive neuropsychological examination is typically carried out by a neuropsychologist.

Paap: “This time-consuming diagnostic evaluation hampers provision of adequate care to all patients; which poses huge challenges, as an increasing number of patients are living longer with or beyond cancer. Healthcare must therefore be organized in a more efficient way. In this project, we are developing an adaptive screening tool that can be used to identify cognitive symptoms. It is our goal to develop a low-threshold tool comprising tasks that can be completed by patients themselves at home.”

Based on an algorithm which has yet to be developed, a recommendation will be given to the patient’s doctor whether or not it is necessary to conduct a full neuropsychological examination of the patient. The tool will be based on the principles of computer adaptive testing (CAT), which offers the advantage of obtaining a score which is as reliable as possible with completing as few tasks as possible in the least amount of time possible.

Paap: “By working closely together with patient representatives of the Dutch Federation of Cancer Patients Organisations (NFK), we want to ensure that the information material, the manual, and the test itself are well aligned with patients’ experiences and wishes. The voices of patients are structurally included in all phases of research and implementation. I am confident that together we can develop and deliver a tool that will make a substantial difference for patients with cancer who experience cognitive symptoms.”

The project team is led by Sanne Schagen (AvL) and comprises neuropsychologists Sanne Schagen, Martine van Zandvoort, and Martin Klein, experts in the field of methodology and, in particular, advanced pscyhometric models Muirne Paap, Niek Frans, Bernard Veldkamp, and Joost Agelink van Rentergem, experts in the field of health technology assessment (HTA) and Human-System Interaction Valesca Retèl and Somaya Ben Allouch, and a team of software developers under supervision of Adriënne Mendrik.

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-          Muirne Paap