Patterns of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in a diverse group of gynecologic cancer survivors

Racial and ethnic disparities in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among gynecologic cancer survivors are not well studied. We evaluated whether individual-level characteristics were associated with PROs in diverse gynecologic cancer survivors.

Gynecologic cancer patients in an ambulatory oncology clinic completed a psychosocial and practical needs assessment before their appointments through the electronic medical record (EMR) patient portal. Assessments were available in English and Spanish. Fatigue, pain, physical function, depression, and anxiety were assessed with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) computer adaptive tests, and health-related quality of life was assessed by FACT-G7. PROs were dichotomized based on severity (normal/mild vs moderate/severe). Demographic and clinical information was collected. Analyses were performed using Chi-square, t-tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

A total of 582 women completed the assessment; 20% (n = 116) were racial minorities, and 54.5% (n = 310) were Hispanic. A total of 192 (32.8%) completed the assessments in Spanish. Hispanic patients had lower mean fatigue scores (49.31 vs 51.74, p = 0.01), and patients whose preferred language was Spanish had lower mean depression (47.63 vs 48.97, p = 0.05) and fatigue scores (48.27 vs 51.27, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the severity of PROs by race, ethnicity, or preferred language. QOL scores were worse in patients with high symptom severity for anxiety (p = 0.04) and physical functioning (p < 0.01). Current smokers had worse physical functioning (13.4% vs 6.5%, p = 0.03).

We found no significant differences in severity of PROs by race, ethnicity, or preferred language. Quality of life scores were worse for patients with high symptom severity for physical functioning and anxiety.