Television Script:
ANCHOR LEAD Computers help us in so many ways – from getting our office work done to brewing a pot of coffee. In the medical community, computers have helped doctors for years. Now, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston are working to see if computers can help patients physically andemotionally during treatment. Anne Doerr has the story.
VO Sound on Tape
CG: North Easton,Massachusetts RONALD KESWICK AND HIS WIFE LOVE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THEIR GRANDDAUGHTERS.
NATS. “We had a great summer, didn’t we?” (:02)
BUT AS A PATIENT WITH ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER, RONALD ADMITS SOME DAYS ARE TOUGH.
CG: Ronald Keswick Cancer patient “I went through a period where I was very upset because I didn’t know what was going to happen.” (:09)
CG: Boston RESEARCHERS AT DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE IN BOSTON ARE HOPING TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP. THEY’RE TESTING A NEW COMPUTER PROGRAM TO ASSIST CANCER PATIENTS WITH TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS LIKE FATIGUE AND HARDER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES LIKE DEPRESSION.
CG: Donna Berry, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute “I always say that the computer never raises an eyebrow no matter what answer you give it.” (:07)
NURSE DONNA BERRY IS HEADING UP THE STUDY. SHE SAYS THE ELECTRONIC SELF REPORT ASSESSMENT-CANCER PROGRAM, OR ES-RA C, MONITORS A PATIENT’S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS.
THE PATIENT ANSWERS A SIMPLE QUESTIONAIRE, FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES DURING TREATMENT. THE PROGRAM THEN TRACKS AND CREATES A COLOR-CODED RECORD THAT TELLS CAREGIVERS AT A GLANCE HOW THE PATIENT IS FEELING.
CG: Donna Berry, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute “Having the reports in front of the doctors and nurses ahead of times gives the doctors and nurses a chance to say well, tell me about how this has affected you.” (:13)
NATS. “Are you almost done with the survey?” (:02)
PATIENTS CAN TAKE THE QUESTIONNAIRE DURING OFFICE VISITS OR FROM THEIR HOMES. RONALD SAYS THE QUESTIONAIRE HAS HELPED HIM TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT HOW HE FEELS. IT’S EVEN HELPED HIM SHARE HIS SYMPTOMS AND CONCERNS WITH HIS WIFE.
CG: Ronald Keswick Cancer patient “We’ve had conversation about some of the questions on the survey and it has been helpful for both of us.” (:08)
AT DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE IN BOSTON, I’M ANNE DOERR REPORTING.
ANCHOR TAG Researchers stress the new program doesn’t replace timewith the doctor, but enhances the quality of care by makingvisits more efficient. They hope to have 600-patients test the computer program.
(Tape Time: 1:42)
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