Taking PROs and patient-centered care seriously: incremental and disruptive ideas for incorporating PROs in oncology practice

Qual Life Res. 2008 Dec;17(10):1323-30. doi: 10.1007/s11136-008-9414-6. Epub 2008 Nov 9.

Abstract

Using patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical practice poses challenges for health care teams and organizations to respond to individual patient needs in a timely fashion. Well-validated tools and feasibility studies are available, but successful spread will require knowledge of effective technology dissemination in complex health delivery systems. Given what has been learned about effective implementation, it is reasonable to ask whether the broad adoption of PROs can occur incrementally using current models of care to apply PRO technology. Another approach is to start with patient needs and focus on how to meet those needs most effectively using PROs in new ways of organizing health care.

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion of Innovation*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology* / organization & administration
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Patient-Centered Care*
  • Quality of Life