Patient-Reported Outcomes in Radiation Oncology

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessments arguably provide the most accurate description of the patient experience, as they are directly derived from the patient without the filter of a provider. Utilizing instruments to assess PROs in radiation oncology enables a provider to measure pretreatment, on-treatment, and posttreatment symptoms. In the clinic, PROs are supplemental to physician-derived ratings that help create a complete clinical picture of a patient at a given time point to inform shared decision-making. A compilation of PROs that arise within trials, specific for given treatment regimes, will be invaluable for patients faced with choosing between options.