Improving safety and convenience for breast cancer patients receiving CDK 4/6 inhibitor treatment via a telemedicine app

CDK 4/6 inhibitors, including palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, have become an essential component of breast cancer treatment. These targeted therapies require monitoring of blood counts, biochemistry, drug interactions, and synergic side effects like QTc prolongation. Post-COVID-19, a telemedicine app was developed for a more convenient and safe patient management approach. A prospective pilot study enrolled breast cancer patients on CDK 4/6 inhibitors to use a telemedicine app, allowing them to return home after blood collection, receive results and recommendations, register adverse reactions, and, in ribociclib cases, monitor ECG with automatic QTc evaluation. The app offered comprehensive information on drug interactions and synergic side effects with concomitant medications. App performance was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-B questionnaires at baseline and after app usage. 20 patients participated in the study. According to the EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status and FACT-B scores, the patients' quality of life was effectively maintained. The app reduced waiting room time by an average of 127 minutes per visit (p<0.01). In addition, the physicians involved in the study reported increased confidence in patient safety due to the comprehensive information provided by the app. The telemedicine app offers a valuable tool for optimizing the management of patients on targeted therapies. It not only maintains patients' quality of life but also enhances overall healthcare efficiency by reducing waiting times and strengthening physicians' perception of patient safety. Future studies should explore the long-term impacts of the app, particularly on patient adherence, survival rates, and cost-effectiveness. With an enlarged patient cohort, there is substantial potential for notable enhancements in quality of life. This expanded investigation could offer deeper insights, enabling us to tailor our telemedicine approach more effectively, thus promoting a higher standard of patient care.