Overcoming barriers to make patient-reported outcome collection the standard of care in oncology

Overcoming barriers to make patient-reported outcome collection the standard of care in oncology
JAMA Oncology; James A. Colbert, MD, MBA; Louis Potters, MD; 1/25
Multiple studies have demonstrated the clear benefits of collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in oncology care. These benefits include measurable effects on patient symptom burden, toxicity, emergency department (ED) use, and even cancer survival. Despite these well-recorded advantages, adoption of PRO collection beyond research studies and clinical trials remains low. Barriers to more widespread adoption in oncology care include clinician skepticism, historical technological limitations, and the challenges related to change management. We owe it to patients to make PRO collection standard practice. Achieving this will require additional education, the embrace of new technologies, and a willingness among clinicians to follow the data and adopt new routines that will necessitate changing established patient care models.