Sustainability and Time Trends in Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Assessment in Routine Cancer Care: Systematic...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Digital Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Routine electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) can enhance cancer care.
• Implementation and long-term sustainability of ePROs in routine practice require further understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the status, trends, and sustainability of clinical ePRO applications in routine oncology care.
• To analyze the evolution and long-term viability of ePRO tools in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of publications on ePRO use in oncology up to December 2023.
• Data analysis included descriptive statistics, univariate regression for time trends, and a follow-up survey of application authors.
• Included peer-reviewed studies of ePRO assessments in clinical practice for cancer patients.

Main Results:

• Publications on ePROs increased significantly from 2003-2023, with a rise in mobile app use, remote assessments, and patient feedback.
• The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and PRO-CTCAE questionnaires were frequently used.
• Of identified applications, 61.1% remain in use, with a median duration of 5 years; lack of funding was the primary discontinuation reason.

Conclusions:

• The field of ePROs in oncology is rapidly advancing towards remote, app-based solutions with patient feedback.
• While ePRO applications demonstrate potential for long-term use, financial constraints and workflow integration challenges impede broader adoption.
• Addressing barriers like funding and reimbursement is crucial for sustained ePRO integration in clinical oncology care.