Measurement of Patient-Reported Outcomes: The How, When, and Where.

Abstract

Objectives: There is growing evidence that integrating patient-reported outcomes (PRO) into clinical assessments is associated with improved symptom management, patient satisfaction, and survival rates. This report aims to critically examine factors that influence how, when, and where PRO should be assessed in the cancer pathway.

Methods: This discussion is grounded in clinical research expertise and supported by relevant literature from peer-reviewed journals.

Results: Multiple digital methods for conducting PRO assessments are being used. Evidence increasingly suggests that adopting a hybrid approach is more likely to ensure that diverse populations complete PRO assessments. This will ensure the data generated are more representative of the wider cancer population. Most research focuses on assessing PRO during treatment while less focuses on the postsurgical and survivorship phases in the cancer pathway. During treatment, more frequent PRO assessment is more informative and better able to guide clinical decision-making. This, however, needs to be balanced against respondent burden. Matching the method for capturing PRO assessment to the preferences and requirements of respondents may be more important than the location in which it occurs.

Conclusion: Regular assessment of PRO improves patient outcomes during treatment and, based on the limited evidence available, following surgery and during the survivorship phase of the cancer pathway.

Implications for nursing practice: More research is needed to identify the optimal timing of PRO assessments during treatment to maximize information while minimizing respondent burden. Finally, we need to better understand which methods for capturing PRO assessments best meet the diverse personal requirements and preferences of the wider cancer population.