Duke ePRO Symptom Monitoring Project

How do I get involved? 
Ask your care team if you are enrolled in the Duke Symptom Tracker, or look for the survey in your My Duke Health (MyChart) account.

How do I access the survey? 
Use the link sent to you once a week or locate the Symptom Tracker survey in the My Duke Health (MyChart) mobile app or web portal.

How often do I complete the survey? 
You will receive a symptom survey through My Duke Health (MyChart) once per week

How long does it take to complete the survey? 
Most patients finish in under two minutes.

How is the survey scored? 
Your survey responses are automatically scored and any symptoms you report are rated as "none," "mild," "moderate," or "severe/very severe."

What happens after I respond? 
Responses are reviewed during regular business hours, and your care team may follow up if needed. The Duke Symptom Tracker is designed to provide you with the right support based on your symptom level.

For mild to moderate symptoms:

• You will automatically receive a link to symptom-specific Patient Information Sheets (Tip Sheets) through My Duke Health (MyChart).
• These tip sheets will explain simple steps you can take at home, including self-care tips, over-the-counter options, and activity changes to help manage symptoms early.

For severe or very severe symptoms

• If you report a severe symptom, you will see an immediate on-screen alert with instructions.
• An automated alert is also sent to your clinical team notifying them of your status.

Where does my data go? 
Your responses are securely added to your medical record for your care team to review.

Can I review my symptom history?
Yes. You can view your symptom trends over time in My Duke Health (MyChart) to see how you are progressing. 

Why is it important for me to participate?

• It helps you stay ahead of your symptoms by allowing your care team to monitor how you’re feeling between appointments.
• It helps identify issues early, preventing them from getting worse.
• Early support may help you avoid urgent care or hospital emergency room visits.
• Completing the survey every week, even if you feel well, helps your care team understand your normal baseline and notice small changes early.

Can I have help completing the survey?
Yes. If you are not comfortable with technology or need help for any reason, a family member or friend can complete the survey for you (this is called a proxy).

Research shows that clinicians are not always fully aware of:

• How many symptoms patients are experiencing
• How severe those symptoms are between visits
• Ongoing unmet needs after treatment

Collecting symptom information directly from patients has been shown to:

• Improve quality of life
• Reduce emergency department visits Reduce hospitalizations
• Improve survival outcomes

The Duke ePRO (electronic patient-reported outcomes) Symptom Monitoring Project is an initiative designed to improve how patients and care teams communicate about symptoms between visits. This project is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and focuses on using digital tools to collect patient-reported symptom information through My Duke Health (MyChart).

By allowing patients to regularly report how they are feeling, the Symptom Tracker helps care teams identify symptoms earlier, provide timely support, and better understand patient experiences outside of clinic visits. Research has shown that collecting symptom information directly from patients can improve quality of life, reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and improve overall outcomes.

This work is part of Duke Health’s broader effort to enhance patient-centered care and use technology to support better communication, earlier intervention, and improved health outcomes.