Real-world implementation of electronic patient-reported outcomes in outpatient pediatric cancer care

Abstract

When implementing ePROs in outpatient pediatric oncology practice, HCPs report determinants that influence ePRO integration. To improve implementation and outcomes, tailored organizational (eg, formal ratification by management and time) and specific local (eg, individualized assessments) strategies should be developed to achieve optimal ePRO discussion.

Healthcare Professionals’ Preferences and Perceived Barriers for Routine Assessment of Patient‐Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Oncology Practice: Moving Toward International Processes of Change

“…The barriers for PRO assessment found in our sample were mainly based on practical issues in the organization (i.e., time, insufficient staff, and logistics). These are comparable to those reported in PRO studies performed in adult samples and in one pediatric oncology sample . Of concern, we found that HCPs from developing countries indicate routine assessment of PROs to be useful, but do not seem to have the resources (i.e., financial, logistics, and availability of staff) to be able to integrate such assessments in their clinical care.…”

“…Furthermore, as medical HCPs indicate PRO information to be useful, there can be a difference between intentions and actual behavioral change (e.g., when the user lacks control over the behavior, or when psychosocial support is not always readily available) . Practical issues could be addressed and barriers ameliorated with sufficient staffing and training of staff and by providing ways to integrate PRO monitoring in clinical routines (e.g., investing in efficient technology systems that can integrate PRO data into the electronic file, and appointing a coordinator/facilitator for the implementation process) . The PROMIS with its validated items banks and innovative electronic PRO systems could provide an efficient way to collect PRO data in pediatric practice.…”

Match of psychosocial risk and psychosocial care in families of a child with cancer

“…As part of a larger study, families of patients with newly diagnosed cancer were asked to participate in this study in four pediatric oncology centers in the Netherlands: the Amalia Children's Hospital/ Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, the Emma Children's Hospital/AMC Amsterdam, the Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus MC Rotterdam, and the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam. During a 19‐month period between June 2012 and December 2013, newly diagnosed patients were identified.…”

“…Potential users need to be convinced of the additional value of innovations for their patients and their own practice before implementation . Information about possible additional value of PAT next to clinical judgment, is therefore mandatory.…”

“…22 Potential users need to be convinced of the additional value of innovations for their patients and their own practice before implementation. 23 Information about possible additional value of PAT next to clinical judgment, is therefore mandatory. In order to know the possible additional value of introducing the PAT in the Dutch setting, it is important to know how the relation is between psychosocial care and potential psychosocial risk, in a situation when risk was not assessed systematically.…”