DUMSCO Partners with Kansai Medical University for ePRO Research on Cancer Treatment

DUMSCO and Kansai Medical University Collaborate on ePRO Research

DUMSCO, based in Minato, Tokyo, has recently announced a joint research collaboration with Kansai Medical University, located in Hirakata, Osaka. This partnership will leverage the data from DUMSCO's electronic Patient Reported Outcome (ePRO) system known as Hakarute.

Background of the Research

In recent years, the role of ePRO has gained significant attention in cancer treatment settings. This system allows patients to report their symptoms and quality of life (QOL) through smart devices, facilitating early detection of side effects and potentially extending survival periods. However, challenges remain in implementing this technology within the clinical realm in Japan, particularly regarding elderly patients, operational burdens, and the effectiveness of ePRO for varying patient demographics.

Thus, this research aims to analyze data from Hakarute, expected to be released in 2024. By correlating patient backgrounds, such as cancer type, age, gender, and treatment methods with frequently reported symptoms and QOL metrics, the study intends to formulate effective operational guidelines for ePRO and gather foundational information for future system enhancements.

Overview of the Joint Research

- Research Title: Retrospective Study on e-PRO (electronic Patient Reported Outcome) Usage by Patients Undergoing Cancer Drug Therapy
- Research Period: December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027
- Research Team:

- Kansai Medical University: Professor Masashi Kanai (Research Supervisor), Assistant Professor Kohei Nagata (Data Analysis)
- DUMSCO: Director Naofumi Wakabayashi (Data Provision)

- Provided Data: Dataset from the ePRO Hakarute system

Future Prospects

DUMSCO plans to utilize the insights gained from this research to support the development of a patient-centered cancer drug therapy framework. The analysis results will inform user-friendly improvements to the system's UI/UX, lessen input burdens for patients, and enhance the accuracy of alerts valuable for healthcare professionals. This initiative aims to drive further functionalities for Hakarute.

About the Cancer Patient Support App Hakarute

DUMSCO has also restructured the regular Hakarute app to serve broader cancer patient needs, incorporating research insights from Hakarute Research. Focused on patient perspective, this application enhances the ability of patients to monitor their health status, fostering a sense of self-efficacy and improving QOL. Features include straightforward health tracking and measurements of heart rate variability (HRV).

Plans to add a consultation feature allowing patients to easily reach out to healthcare providers and provide information on appearance care are also in progress, aiming to create a comprehensive support system for cancer patients.

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For further details, you can check out the following resources:

About DUMSCO

DUMSCO's mission is centered on "Designing Sustainable Performance" by addressing challenges through data analytics and technology. Beyond the Hakarute project, DUMSCO also offers productivity-enhancing consulting and has seen success with various applications such as Habitone, a self-conditioning app, and ANBAI, a stress measurement app for businesses. Additionally, DUMSCO co-developed an AI camera, Kaokara, with Polar Medical for assessing heatstroke risk.