SPARK Symptom Screening and Feedback to Providers

The primary outcome will be the self-reported total SSPedi score on day 5. The total SSPedi score is a validated measure that reflects the total burden of bothersome symptoms experienced. The total score is the sum of each of the 15 items' Likert scores which range from 0 (not at all bothered) to 4 (extremely bothered) to yield a total score that ranges from 0 (no bothersome symptoms) to 60 (worst bothersome symptoms).

The subscale SSPedi score is a validated measure that reflects the burden of a bothersome symptom experienced. Each of the 15 symptoms assessed by the SSPedi questionnaire will serve as secondary outcomes. The subscale uses a Likert score that ranges from 0 (not at all bothered) to 4 (extremely bothered). The reported values represent the number of participants who had symptoms rated as severely bothersome, defined as a score of 3 or 4 on the subscale. Higher reported scores indicate a higher number of participants that reported the level of bother for that symptom as a 3 or a 4.

Self-reported pain will be assessed using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised which consists of a series of horizontal faces that depict a neutral facial expression of no pain on the left and worst pain on the right. It has 6 faces and may be scored on a 0 to 10 scale in which higher numbers denote more pain.

Self-reported QoL will be measured using the PedsQL 3.0 Acute Cancer Module. This measure is a multidimensional instrument that is reliable and valid in children with cancer. It assesses pain and hurt, nausea, procedural anxiety, treatment anxiety, worry, cognitive problems, perceived physical appearance and communication. The self-report 7-day recall version will be used. The problems are rated from 0; never a problem to 4 if it is almost always a problem. They produce 8 domain scores ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores denote better health.