The use of patient reported outcome measures in oncology clinical practice across Australia and New Zealand

Ashika D Maharaj; Natasha Roberts; Michael Jefford; Jerome Ng; Claudia Rutherford; Bogda Koczwara

doi:10.1186/s41687-023-00664-x

The use of patient reported outcome measures in oncology clinical practice across Australia and New Zealand

J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2024 Jan 2;8(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s41687-023-00664-x.

Authors

Ashika D Maharaj^{1

2}, Natasha Roberts^{3

4}, Michael Jefford^{5

6

7}, Jerome Ng^{8

9}, Claudia Rutherford^{10

11}, Bogda Koczwara¹²

Affiliations

¹ Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. a.d.maharaj@tudelft.nl.
² Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. a.d.maharaj@tudelft.nl.
³ The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
⁴ STARS Education and Research Alliance, Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), The University of Queensland and Metro North Health, Herston, QLD, Australia.
⁵ Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁷ Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁸ Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁹ School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
¹⁰ Cancer Care Research Unit, Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia.
¹² Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Abstract

Background: While there is increasing evidence on the benefits of PROMs in cancer care, the extent of routine collection and use of PROMs in clinical cancer practice across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) is unknown. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of PROMs use in routine clinical cancer care in ANZ.

Methods: An online survey was designed and disseminated via professional societies and organisations using a snowball sampling approach to clinical and health administration professionals managing cancer care in ANZ. A poster advertising the study was also circulated on professional social media networks via LinkedIn and Twitter inviting health professionals from ANZ to participate if they were using or intending to use PROMs in clinical cancer practice. Responders opted into the survey via the survey link.

Results: From 132 survey views, 91(response rate, 69%) respondents from 56 clinical practices across ANZ agreed to participate in the survey, and of these 55 (n = 55/91, 60%) respondents reported collecting PROMs within their clinical practice. The majority of the respondents were from the State of New South Wales in Australia (n = 21/55, 38%), hospital (n = 35/55, 64%), and a public setting (n = 46/55, 83%). PROMs were collected in all cancer types (n = 21/36, 58%), in all stages of the disease (n = 31/36, 86%), in an adult population (n = 33/36, 92%), applied in English (n = 33/36, 92%), and used to facilitate communication with other reasons (27/36, 75%). A geospatial map analysis provided insights into the variation in PROMs uptake between the two countries and in certain jurisdictions within Australia. This study also highlights the limited resources for PROMs implementation, and a lack of systematic priority driven approach.

Conclusion: PROM use across Australia and New Zealand seems variable and occurring predominantly in larger metropolitan centres with limited standardisation of approach and implementation. A greater focus on equitable adoption of PROMs in diverse cancer care settings is urgently needed.

Keywords: Health policy; Health services research; Oncology; Patient-reported outcome measures; Quality of care.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia / epidemiology
Humans
Medical Oncology*
New South Wales
New Zealand / epidemiology
Patient Reported Outcome Measures*