Photo above: Chemotherapy & IV Infusion Clinic staff at Woodstock Hospital
Photo credit: Woodstock Hospital
March 25, 2025
Cancer patients experience a number of symptoms related to their disease and treatment which can negatively impact their quality of life.
Your Symptoms Matter is a symptom screening tool that was created based off of scientific evidence. It allows patients to rate the severity of common cancer symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue. The tool allows the patient to rate their symptom experience from less to more severe.
Symptom screening is performed across the province and is an important way for patients to communicate how they are feeling (and to track the progression of symptoms) to their health care team. Symptom screening can be completed before appointments so their care team can continue to track and understand their symptoms.
Symptom screening in the southwest region
The South West Regional Cancer Program (SWRCP), is one of 14 regional cancer programs across Ontario. They address local cancer issues, coordinate care across providers, and work to ensure access to care and service quality.
SWRCP delivers cancer services across multiple communities within the southwest region. It focuses on high-quality, patient- and family-centred care to enhance outcomes and reduce the cancer burden.
The region's cancer centre, London Health Sciences Centre’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, works collaboratively with satellite clinics across the southwest to provide systemic treatment for cancer patients closer to home. SWRCP prioritizes person-centred care, offering resources like the Your Symptoms Matter tool , an Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) resource for patients and caregivers.
The benefits of symptom screening
Symptom screening is an important way for patients to communicate how they are feeling to their healthcare team.
“Symptom screening allows the nurse to review the patient’s response to their symptoms at the appointment and address concerns immediately if any concerns arise,” explains Fatima Vieira-Cabral, Director, Pharmacy, Chemotherapy and IV Infusion Clinic, Woodstock Hospital. “Even if some symptoms can’t be directly treated by the nurse or physician, simply talking about them can help to validate the patient’s experience and open a dialogue to connect the patient to other resources or services in the community.”
Woodstock Hospital is one of several satellite cancer clinics in the southwest region where symptom screening is part of the patient registration process ahead of their appointment. Patients can complete the screening on a tablet in the clinic, use their smartphone through a QR code that’s posted in the department, or fill out a paper questionnaire.
“When nurses see the patient’s symptom scores, they can also look at the historical data and see trends in their symptoms and interventions previously done,” explains Vieira-Cabral. “By having this conversation during the patient’s treatment appointment, the care team can work with the patient and their caregivers to find relief from symptoms and improve their quality of life as they receive treatment.”
It’s a very similar experience at Wingham and District Hospital, which is a part of the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance in the southwest region.
“When a patient comes to our oncology unit, there’s a computer beside the clerk’s desk. When the patient comes in and registers with the clerk, as the clerk inputs their information, they complete the symptom management screening. They submit it right through the electronic system and we print off a copy,” explains Christine Reyes, Clinical Manager, Wingham and District Hospital. “The clerk puts the paper copy in the patient chart so the nurse can review the information with the patient in the appointment.”
Stratford General Hospital, which is a part of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance also makes it easy for patients to fill out the Your Symptoms Matter symptom screening tool before their appointment begins.
“The patients complete their symptom reporting with the clerk during registration. The clerk asks the questions and inputs the answers into our electronic system. Our nurses then refer to the electronic chart during the appointment,” says Kristy Adair, Interim Manager, Regional Pharmacy and Chemotherapy Program, Stratford General Hospital.
Even though the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance recently unveiled their new cancer and medical care clinic and pharmacy in January, meaning their workflow may change, they will still continue to prioritize symptom screening.
“Our patients feel heard through the whole process. Our administrative staff are supporting symptom screening, our nurses have the conversations, and all patients are seen by a physician – they are seen by our whole team,” explains Adair. “Their symptoms are addressed in multiple steps on their treatment day by various staff.”
“One of the benefits of the satellite sites is that patients get to see the same staff each visit,” shares Vieira-Cabral. “This allows staff to build relationships with patients and get to know them as people and build a rapport so patients feel more comfortable and confident sharing their symptom experiences with staff.”
Moving forward
Wingham District Hospital, Woodstock Hospital and Stratford General Hospital have had significant success in integrating symptom screening at their centres. Patients and staff see how important symptom management is to delivering person-centred care because it embeds the voice of the patient, in their cancer care planning and experience.
The SWRCP plans to continue to bolster the availability of Your Symptoms Matter symptom screening in patient appointments across the region so clinicians can ensure that a patient’s symptoms are managed in a timely manner to improve quality of life.