Electronic patient-reported outcomes platforms to shift from episodic to continuous oncology in breast cancer

To critically examine the clinical value of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessed through electronic tools (ePROs) in breast cancer, with a focus on their impact on patient management and real-world implementation.

Accumulating evidence indicates that ePRO-based symptom monitoring improves patient-clinician communication, reduces symptom burden, and decreases acute healthcare utilization. While improvements in quality of life are consistently observed across studies, evidence for survival benefit remains context-dependent and is largely derived from heterogeneous oncology populations. Notably, the effectiveness of ePROs appears to depend less on digitalization itself and more on structured implementation, including alert systems, timely clinical response, demanding implementation efforts, and preparedness and resilience of the digital health infrastructure.

ePROs represent a shift from episodic, visit-based assessment to more continuous and responsive monitoring in breast cancer care. Their clinical value is strongest when integrated into care pathways with clearly defined responsibilities and actionable workflows. Future development should focus on scalable models that balance efficiency with sustained patient engagement and equitable access.