The use of EORTC measures in daily clinical practice—A synopsis of a newly developed manual. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wintner, Lisa M.; Sztankay, Monika; Aaronson, Neil; Bottomley, Andrew; Giesinger, Johannes M.; Groenvold, Mogens; Petersen, Morten Aa; van de Poll-Franse, Lonneke; Velikova, Galina; Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma; Holzner, Bernhard
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer. Volume 68(2016)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: EORTC Quality of Life Group -- Patient-reported outcomes -- Quality of life -- Neoplasms -- Manual -- Implementation -- Daily clinical routine -- Guideline; Cancer -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Périodiques; Cancer; Tumors; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.08.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8049

Abstract

Abstract: Cancer has increasingly become a chronic condition and the routine collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) like quality of life is widely recommended for clinical practice. Nonetheless, the successful implementation of PROs is still a major challenge, although common barriers to and facilitators of their beneficial use are well known. To support health care professionals and other stakeholders in the implementation of the EORTC PRO measures, the EORTC Quality of Life Group provides guidance on issues considered important for their use in daily clinical practice. Herein, we present an outline of the newly developed "'Manual for the use of EORTC measures in daily clinical practice", covering the following issues: * a rationale for using EORTC measures in routine care *selection of EORTC measures, timing of assessments, scoring and presentation of results * aspects of a strategic implementation * electronic data assessment and telemonitoring, and * further use of EORTC measures and ethical considerations. Next to an extensive overview of currently available literature, the manual specifically focuses on knowledge about EORTC measures to give evidence-based recommendations whenever possible and to encourage readers and end-users of EORTC measures to contribute to further needed high-quality research. The manual will be accessible on the EORTC Quality of Life Group website's homepage and will be periodically updated to take into account any new knowledge due to medical, technical, regulatory and scientific advances. Highlights: Science and guidelines advocate routine patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessment in oncology. The EORTC Quality of Life Group is a major stakeholder responsible for developing and disseminating high-quality PRO measures. A newly developed Quality of Life Group manual provides guidance for successful integration of PROs into daily clinical routine. The manual deals with issues important for everybody who is interested/engaged in the use of PRO measures. Discussed issues include theoretical, practical, scientific and ethical aspects.