Capturing the patient voice: implementing patient-reported outcomes across the health system

Business case for psychosocial interventions in clinics: potential for decrease in treatment discontinuation and costs

RESEARCH QUESTION

From a value-based healthcare (VBHC) perspective, does an assessment of clinical outcomes and intervention costs indicate that providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness to women seeking fertility treatment add value compared with no such intervention?

DESIGN

Proof-of-concept business case based on a VBHC perspective that considers clinical outcomes and costs. Potential effects on psychological and fertility outcomes were based on existing research. Cost outcomes were estimated with a costing model for the Dutch fertility treatment setting.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies were identified; 13 were included. Women who received CBT had 12% lower anxiety, 40% lower depression and 6% higher fertility quality of life; difference in clinical pregnancy rates was six percentage points (CBT [30.2%]; control [24.2%]); difference in fertility discontinuation rates was 10 percentage points (CBT [5.5%]; control [15.2%]). Women who received training in mindfulness had 8% lower anxiety, 45% lower depression and 21% higher fertility quality of life; difference in mean clinical pregnancy rate was 19 percentage points (mindfulness [44.8%]; control [26.0%]). Potential total cost savings was about €1.2 million per year if CBT was provided and €11 million if mindfulness was provided. Corresponding return on investment for CBT was 30.7%, and for mindfulness 288%. Potential cost benefits are influenced by the assumed clinical pregnancy rates; such data related to mindfulness were limited to one study.

CONCLUSIONS

The provision of CBT or mindfulness to women seeking fertility treatment could add value. Higher quality primary studies are needed on the effect of mindfulness on clinical pregnancy rates.

General population normative values for the EORTC QLQ-C30 by age, sex, and health condition for the French general population

BACKGROUND

General population normative values for the widely used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure EORTC QLQ-C30 support the interpretation of trial results and HRQoL of patients in clinical practice. Here, we provide sex-, age- and health condition-specific normative values for the EORTC QLQ-C30 in the French general population.

METHODS

French general population data was collected in an international EORTC project. Online panels with quota samples were used to recruit sex and age groups. Number and type of comorbidities were assessed. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate general population values for each QLQ-C30 scale, separately for sex, age, and presence of one- and more chronic health conditions. A multivariate linear regression model has been developed to allow estimating the effect of sex, age, and the presence for one- and more chronic health conditions on EORTC QLQ-C30 scores. Data was weighted according to United Nation statistics adjusting for the proportion of sex and age groups.

RESULTS

In total, 1001 French respondents were included in our analyses. The weighted mean age was 47.9 years, 514 (51.3%) participants were women, and 497 (52.2%) participants reported at least one health condition. Men reported statistically significant better scores for Emotional Functioning (+9.6 points, p = 0.006) and Fatigue (-7.8 point; p = 0.04); women reported better profiles for Role Functioning (+8.7 points; p = 0.008) and Financial Difficulty (-7.8 points, p = 0.011). According to the regression model, the sex effect was statistically significant in eight scales; the effect of increasing age had a statistically significant effect on seven of the 15 EORTC QLQ-C30 scales. The sex- and age effect varied in its direction across the various scales. The presence of health conditions showed a strong negative effect on all scales.

CONCLUSION

This is the first publication of detailed French normative values for the EORTC QLQ-C30. It aims to support the interpretation of HRQoL profiles in French cancer populations. The strong impact of health conditions on QLQ-C30 scores highlights the importance of considering the impact of comorbidities in cancer patients when interpreting HRQoL data.

Listening to patients, for the patients: The COVAD Study-Vision, organizational structure, and challenges

BACKGROUND

The pandemic presented unique challenges for individuals with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) due to their underlying condition, the effects of immunosuppressive treatments, and increased vaccine hesitancy.

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) study, a series of ongoing, patient self-reported surveys were conceived with the vision of being a unique tool to gather patient perspectives on AIRDs. It involved a multinational, multicenter collaborative effort amidst a global lockdown.

METHODS

Leveraging social media as a research tool, COVAD collected data using validated patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The study, comprising a core team, steering committee, and global collaborators, facilitated data collection and analysis. A pilot-tested, validated survey, featuring questions regarding COVID-19 infection, vaccination and outcomes, patient demographics, and PROs was circulated to patients with AIRDs and healthy controls (HCs).

DISCUSSION

We present the challenges encountered during this international collaborative project, including coordination, data management, funding constraints, language barriers, and authorship concerns, while highlighting the measures taken to address them.

CONCLUSION

Collaborative virtual models offer a dynamic new frontier in medical research and are vital to studying rare diseases. The COVAD study demonstrates the potential of online platforms for conducting large-scale, patient-focused research and underscores the importance of integrating patient perspective into clinical care. Care of patients is our central motivation, and it is essential to recognize their voices as equal stakeholders and valued partners in the study of the conditions that affect them.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

Disorders of gut-brain interaction are characterized by chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of abnormal endoscopic or radiologic findings or objective biomarkers that can be identified during routine clinical evaluation. The assessment of the symptom pattern and severity, therefore, is the key modality to evaluate the presence, impact, and evolution of these conditions, for both clinical and regulatory purposes. Patient-reported outcomes are structured symptom assessment questionnaires designed to evaluate symptom patterns, quantify severity of symptoms, and evaluate response to treatment at follow-up. This review provides an overview of currently available patient-reported outcomes for evaluating the main disorders of gut-brain interaction, specifically, functional dyspepsia; irritable bowel syndrome; and chronic constipation. It summarizes their content, level of validation for clinical practice and for research, and the regulatory approach to these conditions. Expected future developments and need for further research on patient-reported outcomes for these and other disorders of gut-brain interaction are highlighted.

The first steps in the development of a cancer-specific patient-reported experience measure item bank (PREM-item bank): towards dynamic evaluation of experiences

OBJECTIVE

Since the implementation of value-based healthcare, there has been a growing emphasis on utilizing patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) to enhance the quality of care. However, the current PREMs are primarily generic and static, whereas healthcare is constantly evolving and encompasses a wide variety of aspects that impact care quality. To continuously improve care requires a dynamic PREM. The aim of this study was to propose an item bank for the establishment of a dynamic and care-specific patient-reported evaluation.

METHODS

In co-creation with patients, a mixed methods study was conducted involving: (1) an explorative review of the literature, (2) a focus group analysis with (ex-)patients, (3) qualitative analyses to formulate themes, and (4) a quantitative selection of items by patients and experts through prioritization.

RESULTS

Eight existing PREMs were evaluated. After removing duplicates, 141 items were identified. Through qualitative analyses of the focus group in which the patient journey was discussed, eight themes were formulated: "Organization of healthcare," "Competence of healthcare professionals," "Communication," "Information & services," "Patient empowerment," "Continuity & informal care," "Environment," and "Technology." Seven patients and eleven professionals were asked to prioritize what they considered the most important items. From this, an item bank with 76 items was proposed.

CONCLUSION

In collaboration with patients and healthcare professionals, we have proposed a PREM-item bank to evaluate the experiences of patients' receiving cancer care in an outpatient clinic. This item bank is the first step to dynamically assess the quality of cancer care provided in an outpatient setting.

The implementation, use and impact of patient reported outcome measures in value-based healthcare programmes: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) focuses on the value of patient outcomes and is achieved by ensuring resources already available are managed to realise the best possible individual and population health outcomes. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) measure the impact of illnesses from the patient perspective. We conducted a scoping review to understand how PROMs were implemented and used, and their impact in the context of VBHC.

METHODS

Arksey and O'Malley's overarching framework supplemented by principles from mixed-methods Framework Synthesis were used. CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Google Scholar and reference lists were searched. An a priori data extraction framework was created using the review question and objectives as key domains against which to extract data. Mixed-methods data were organised, integrated and preserved in original format and reported for each domain.

RESULTS

Forty-three studies were included with 60,200 participants. Few studies reported a well-developed programme theory and we found little robust evidence of effect. PROMs were universally considered to have the potential to increase patient satisfaction with treatment and services, enhance patient awareness of symptoms and self-management, and improve health outcomes such as quality of life and global health status. Evidence is currently limited on how PROMs work and how best to optimally implement PROMs to achieve the target outcome. Implementation challenges commonly prevented the realisation of optimal outcomes and patients generally needed better and clearer communication about why PROMs were being given and how they could optimally be used to support their own self-management.

CONCLUSION

PROMSs have yet to demonstrate their full potential in a VBHC context. Optimal PROMs implementation is poorly understood by clinicians and patients. Future studies should explore different models of PROM implementation and use within VBHC programmes to understand what works best and why for each specific context, condition, and population.

Is There Room for Individual Patient-Specified Preferences in the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Revolution?

Purpose

The study aim was to test the feasibility of collecting qualitative patient-preferred outcomes or goals and the degree of their attainment as an addition to a standardized process for collecting quantitative composite patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) from patients undergoing knee joint replacement.

Methods

Patients of a large Midwestern medical group scheduled to have total replacement of their knee joint have been asked to complete a PROMs survey preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months after surgery since 2014. In March 2020, an open-ended question about their most important preferred outcome was added to the existing questionnaire. The responses for all 3 time periods from the first 6 months of this addition were summarized quantitatively and analyzed by 2 reviewers.

Results

During that 6-month period, 1481 people completed the main survey while 1463 (98.8%) also completed the open-ended question. At baseline, 90.8% of the 590 baseline respondents identified a preferred outcome. If multiple-choice categories had been used, 82.7% of the responses would have lost some or a large amount of their preferred goals' meaning. Of the 144 who completed surveys at both baseline and 3 months, 86.1% reported another outcome in addition to pain relief, while 54.2% reported "Complete or Mostly" achieving their self-identified preferred outcome.

Conclusions

Most people who have joint replacement surgery and respond to a quantitative PROMs survey are willing to report on their other preferred outcomes as well. Adding an open-ended question to PROMs surveys may increase clinician focus on addressing outcomes important to each patient.

The Impact of Living With Chronic Hepatitis B on Quality of Life: Implications for Clinical Management

Living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has physical, social, and emotional impacts that often negatively affect patients' quality of life. These impacts are not usually captured during routine care. This article presents information on the impact of living with CHB and the importance of integrating health-related quality-of-life assessment into CHB care. Using a global online survey, people ages ≥18 living with CHB were asked about physical, social, and worry impacts. Of 1707 respondents, most were male (67%), < 45 years of age (81%); and 52% identified as Black. Of all participants, 66% reported physical impact, 55% reported social impact, and 49% reported worry impact of living with CHB. Those from Africa and the Western Pacific were most likely to report physical impact. Younger participants (18-45) and those not on treatment were significantly more likely to report physical and social impact. People living with CHB are impacted physically, socially, and emotionally, varied by demographic factors and disease experience. These impacts should be captured and addressed as part of routine CHB care.

Measuring What Matters: A Qualitative Study of the Relevance and Clinical Utility of PROMIS Surveys in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relevance and clinical utility of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) surveys in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Adults with SLE receiving routine outpatient care at a tertiary care academic medical center participated in a qualitative study. Patients completed PROMIS computerized adaptive tests (CATs) in 12 selected domains and rated the relevance of each domain to their experience with SLE. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to elucidate the relevance of the PROMIS surveys, identify additional domains of importance, and explore the utility of the surveys in clinical care. Focus group and interview transcripts were coded, and a thematic analysis was performed using an iterative inductive process.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight women and 4 men participated in 4 focus groups and 4 interviews, respectively. Participants endorsed the relevance and comprehensiveness of the selected PROMIS domains in capturing the effect of SLE on their lives. They ranked fatigue, pain interference, sleep disturbance, physical function, and applied cognition abilities as the most salient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains. They suggested that the disease-agnostic PROMIS questions holistically captured their lived experience of SLE and its common comorbidities. Participants were enthusiastic about using PROMIS surveys in clinical care and described potential benefits in enabling disease monitoring and management, facilitating communication, and empowering patients.

CONCLUSION

PROMIS includes the HRQOL domains that are of most importance to individuals with SLE. Patients suggest that these universal tools can holistically capture the impact of SLE and enhance routine clinical care.

Big Data in Oncology Nursing Research: State of the Science

OBJECTIVE

To review the state of oncology nursing science as it pertains to big data. The authors aim to define and characterize big data, describe key considerations for accessing and analyzing big data, provide examples of analyses of big data in oncology nursing science, and highlight ethical considerations related to the collection and analysis of big data.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed articles published by investigators specializing in oncology, nursing, and related disciplines.

CONCLUSION

Big data is defined as data that are high in volume, velocity, and variety. To date, oncology nurse scientists have used big data to predict patient outcomes from clinician notes, identify distinct symptom phenotypes, and identify predictors of chemotherapy toxicity, among other applications. Although the emergence of big data and advances in computational methods provide new and exciting opportunities to advance oncology nursing science, several challenges are associated with accessing and using big data. Data security, research participant privacy, and the underrepresentation of minoritized individuals in big data are important concerns.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

With their unique focus on the interplay between the whole person, the environment, and health, nurses bring an indispensable perspective to the interpretation and application of big data research findings. Given the increasing ubiquity of passive data collection, all nurses should be taught the definition, characteristics, applications, and limitations of big data. Nurses who are trained in big data and advanced computational methods will be poised to contribute to guidelines and policies that preserve the rights of human research participants.

How to make PROMs work: qualitative insights from leaders at United States hospitals with successful PROMs programs

PURPOSE

Elucidate facilitators, barriers, and key lessons learned regarding the implementation of system-wide clinical patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) programs among United States (US) healthcare leaders.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 US healthcare leaders, including chief-level executives, data directors, PROM directors, and department chairs involved in PROM implementation across seven diverse healthcare systems from February to June 2020. Transcripts were coded, evaluated for qualitative themes, and categorized according to the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR).

RESULTS

According to US hospital leaders with experience in existing clinical PROM programs, there are facilitators and barriers to implementation success in each CFIR domain. Allowing clinicians to select PROM measures and ensuring a user-friendly data platform (intervention); adapting data collection to patient home environments (outer setting); informing clinicians of the multi-faceted use of PROM data for research, clinical care, and business (inner setting); implementing PROM education earlier into clinician training (characteristics of individuals); and establishing specialty-agnostic PROM implementation teams (process) were among key facilitators to implementation success.

CONCLUSION

Leaders of geographically and clinically diverse PROM programs in the US identify common themes that facilitate successful implementation. Drivers of success depend on factors within and outside the clinical environment. These findings may serve to guide both establishing new PROM programs and refining existing PROM programs.

PROMs and PREMs in routine perinatal care: mixed methods evaluation of their implementation into integrated obstetric care networks

BACKGROUND

In the transition towards value-based healthcare, patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROM and PREM) are recommended by international collaborations and government programs to guide clinical practice and quality improvement. For many conditions, using PROM/PREM over the complete continuum of care requires implementation across care organizations and disciplines. Along PROM/PREM implementation in obstetric care networks (OCN), we aimed to evaluate implementation outcomes and the processes influencing these outcomes in the complex context of care networks across the continuum of perinatal care.

METHODS

Three OCN in the Netherlands implemented PROM/PREM in routine practice, using an internationally developed outcomes set with care professionals and patient advocates. Their aim was to use PROM/PREM results individually to guide patient-specific care decisions and at group-level to improve quality of care. The implementation process was designed following the principles of action research: iteratively planning implementation, action, data generation and reflection to refine subsequent actions, involving both researchers and care professionals. During the one-year implementation period in each OCN, implementation outcomes and processes were evaluated in this mixed-methods study. Data generation (including observation, surveys and focus groups) and analysis were guided by two theoretical implementation frameworks: the Normalization Process Theory and Proctor's taxonomy for implementation outcomes. Qualitative findings were supplemented with survey data to solidify findings in a broader group of care professionals.

RESULTS

Care professionals in OCN found the use of PROM/PREM acceptable and appropriate, recognized their benefits and felt facilitated in their patient-centered goals and vision. However, feasibility for daily practice was low, mainly due to IT issues and time constraints. Hence PROM/PREM implementation did not sustain, but strategies for future PROM/PREM implementation were formulated in all OCN. Processes contributing positively to implementation outcomes were internalization (understand the value) and initiation (driven by key-participants), whereas challenges in relational integration (maintain confidence) and reconfiguration (refine activities) affected implementation negatively.

CONCLUSION

Although implementation did not sustain, network-broad PROM/PREM use in clinic and quality improvement matched professionals' motivation. This study provides recommendations to implement PROM/PREM meaningfully in practice in ways that support professionals in their drive towards patient-centered care. In order for PROM/PREM to fulfill their potential for value-based healthcare, our work highlights the need for sustainable IT infrastructures, as well as an iterative approach to refine their complex implementation into local contexts.

One report, multiple aims: orthopedic surgeons vary how they use patient-reported outcomes with patients

PURPOSE

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with surgeons to assess their goals for incorporating a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM)-based shared decision report into discussions around surgical and non-surgical treatment options for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip.

METHODS

Surgeons actively enrolling patients into a study incorporating a standardized PROM-based shared decision report were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview lasting 30 min. Open-ended questions explored how the surgeon used report content, features that were helpful, confusing, or could be improved, and how use of the report fit into the surgeon's workflow. We used a conventional content analysis approach.

RESULTS

Of the 16 eligible surgeons, 11 agreed to participate with 9 completing the interview and 2 withdrawing due to work demands. We identified 8 themes related to PROM-based report use: Acceptability, Patient Characteristics, Communication Goals, Useful Content, Not Useful Content, Challenges, Training Needs, and Recommended Improvements. Additional sub-themes emerged for Communication Goals (7) and Challenges (8). All surgeons shared positive feedback about using the report as part of clinical care. Whereas surgeons described the use of the report to achieve different goals, the most common uses related to setting expectations for post-surgical outcomes (89%) and educating patients (100%).

CONCLUSION

Surgeons tailor their use of a PROM-based report with individual patients to achieve a range of aims. This study suggests multiple opportunities to further our understanding of the ways PROMs can be used in clinical practice. The way PROM information is visually displayed and multi-component reports are assembled can facilitate diverse aims.

Integrating Routine Screening for Opioid Use Disorder into Primary Care Settings: Experiences from a National Cohort of Clinics

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine population-based screening for drug use, yet screening for opioid use disorder (OUD) in primary care occurs rarely, and little is known about barriers primary care teams face.

OBJECTIVE

As part of a multisite randomized trial to provide OUD and behavioral health treatment using the Collaborative Care Model, we supported 10 primary care clinics in implementing routine OUD screening and conducted formative evaluation to characterize early implementation experiences.

DESIGN

Qualitative formative evaluation.

APPROACH

Formative evaluation included taking detailed observation notes at implementation meetings with individual clinics and debriefings with external facilitators. Observation notes were analyzed weekly using a Rapid Assessment Process guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, with iterative feedback from the study team. After clinics launched OUD screening, we conducted structured fidelity assessments via group interviews with each site to evaluate clinic experiences with routine OUD screening. Data from observation and structured fidelity assessments were combined into a matrix to compare across clinics and identify cross-cutting barriers and promising implementation strategies.

KEY RESULTS

While all clinics had the goal of implementing population-based OUD screening, barriers were experienced across intervention, individual, and clinic setting domains, with compounding effects for telehealth visits. Seven themes emerged characterizing barriers, including (1) challenges identifying who to screen, (2) complexity of the screening tool, (3) staff discomfort and/or hesitancies, (4) workflow barriers that decreased screening follow-up, (5) staffing shortages and turnover, (6) discouragement from low screening yield, and (7) stigma. Promising implementation strategies included utilizing a more universal screening approach, health information technology (HIT), audit and feedback, and repeated staff trainings.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrating population-based OUD screening in primary care is challenging but may be made feasible via implementation strategies and tailored practice facilitation that standardize workflows via HIT, decrease stigma, and increase staff confidence regarding OUD.

Association of Function, Symptoms, and Social Support Reported in Standardized Outpatient Clinic Questionnaires With Subsequent Hospital Discharge Disposition and 30-Day Readmissions

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patient-reported information, routinely collected in an outpatient setting, is associated with readmission within 30 days of discharge and/or the need for post-acute care after a subsequent hospital admission.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study. Six domains of patient-reported information collected in the outpatient setting (psychological distress, respiratory symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, family support, mobility, and activities of daily living [ADLs]) were linked to electronic health record hospitalization data. Mixed effects logistic regression models with random intercepts were used to identify the association between the 6 domains and outcomes.

SETTING

Outpatient clinics and hospitals in a Midwestern health system.

PARTICIPANTS

7671 patients who were hospitalized 11,445 times between May 2004 and May 2014 (N=7671).

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

30-day hospital readmission and discharge home vs facility.

RESULTS

Domains were significantly associated with 30-day readmission and placement in a facility. Specifically, mobility (odds ratio [OR]=1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16, 1.46), ADLs (OR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.13, 1.42), respiratory symptoms (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.12, 1.41), and psychological distress (OR=1.20; 95% CI, 1.07, 1.35) had the strongest associations with 30-day readmission. The ADL (OR=2.52; 95% CI, 2.26, 2.81), mobility (OR=2.35; 95% CI, 2.10, 2.63), family support (OR=2.28; 95% CI, 1.98, 2.62), and psychological distress (OR=1.38; 95% CI, 1.25, 1.52) domains had the strongest associations with discharge to an institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-reported function, symptoms, and social support routinely collected in outpatient clinics are associated with future 30-day readmission and discharge to an institutional setting. Whether these data can be leveraged to guide interventions to address patient needs and improve outcomes requires further research.

Patient-Reported Outcome and Experience Measures in Perinatal Care to Guide Clinical Practice: Prospective Observational Study

Background

The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement has published a set of patient-centered outcome measures for pregnancy and childbirth (PCB set), including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs). To establish value-based pregnancy and childbirth care, the PCB set was implemented in the Netherlands, using the outcomes on the patient level for shared decision-making and on an aggregated level for quality improvement.

Objective

This study aims to report first outcomes, experiences, and practice insights of implementing the PCB set in clinical practice.

Methods

In total, 7 obstetric care networks across the Netherlands, each consisting of 1 or 2 hospitals and multiple community midwifery practices (ranging in number from 2 to 18), implemented the PROM and PREM domains of the PCB set as part of clinical routine. This observational study included all women participating in the clinical project. PROMs and PREMs were assessed with questionnaires at 5 time points: 2 during pregnancy and 3 post partum. Clinical threshold values (alerts) supported care professionals interpreting the answers, indicating possibly alarming outcomes per domain. Data collection took place from February 2020 to September 2021. Data analysis included missing (pattern) analysis, sum scores, alert rates, and sensitivity analysis.

Results

In total, 1923 questionnaires were collected across the 5 time points: 816 (42.43%) at T1 (first trimester), 793 (41.23%) at T2 (early third trimester), 125 (6.5%) at T3 (maternity week), 170 (8.84%) at T4 (6 weeks post partum), and 19 (1%) at T5 (6 months post partum). Of these, 84% (1615/1923) were filled out completely. Missing items per domain ranged from 0% to 13%, with the highest missing rates for depression, pain with intercourse, and experience with pain relief at birth. No notable missing patterns were found. For the PROM domains, relatively high alert rates were found both in pregnancy and post partum for incontinence (469/1798, 26.08%), pain with intercourse (229/1005, 22.79%), breastfeeding self-efficacy (175/765, 22.88%), and mother-child bonding (122/288, 42.36%). Regarding the PREM domains, the highest alert rates were found for birth experience (37/170, 21.76%), shared decision-making (101/982, 10.29%), and discussing pain relief ante partum (310/793, 39.09%). Some domains showed very little clinical variation; for example, role of the mother and satisfaction with care.

Conclusions

The PCB set is a useful tool to assess patient-reported outcomes and experiences that need to be addressed over the whole course of pregnancy and childbirth. Our results provide opportunities to improve and personalize perinatal care. Furthermore, we could propose several recommendations regarding methods and timeline of measurements based on our findings. This study supports the implementation of the PCB set in clinical practice, thereby advancing the transformation toward patient-centered, value-based health care for pregnancy and childbirth.

Patient reported outcomes in oncology: changing perspectives-a systematic review

In public health context, oncology is associated with severe negative impact on patients and on their relatives’ quality of life. Over the last decades, survival has remained at 50% worldwide for some tumor locations. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) assessment and, the corresponding use in clinical practice, help establishing patient individualized profiling involving caregivers. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine critical success factors for PROs assessment in daily clinical oncology practice. Additionally, we investigated how PROs collection can change oncology perspectives for patients and caregivers. According to PRISMA guidelines, 83 studies were included in this systematic review, whether related with implementation in daily clinical practice or associated with its use in oncology. PROs assessment gathers multi-professional teams, biomedical and clinical expertise, patients, families and caregivers. Institutional involvement, first line for caregiver’s adherence, team continuous formation, encompassing training and support, design of clear workflows, continuous monitoring, and data analysis are crucial for implementation. PROs measures are decisive in oncology. Several items were improved, including caregiver–patient–physician communication, patient risk groups identification, unmet problems and needs detection, disease course and treatment tracking, prognostic markers, cost-effectiveness measurement and comfort/support provision for both patients and caregivers. Routine assessment and implementation of PROs in clinical practice are a major challenge and a paradigm transformation for future.

Comparison of 2 Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: A Systematic Validation Study

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are integral to clinical practice. While new instruments bring updated methodology and delivery methods, they must be compared with existing measures to ensure that they are comparable with currently used instruments and allow ongoing comparison. In this study, we evaluated 2 PRO measures for patients with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI): the legacy Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) and the newer Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). We hypothesized that the PROMIS and PODCI would be correlated, with high convergent validity, and that PROMIS assessment would have higher discriminant validity and take less time to complete than the PODCI.

METHODS

A cross-sectional prospective study was undertaken at a tertiary referral center. Subjects (n = 50) completed the PODCI and PROMIS, both as short form (SF) and computer-adaptive testing (CAT) measures, in randomized order. Patient and parent questionnaires were completed according to subject age. Physicians completed upper-extremity (UE) physical function tests. Correlations between PODCI and PROMIS scores were analyzed to determine convergent validity, UE subscores were analyzed relative to physical function scores to assess discriminant validity, and completion times were calculated to determine survey time to completion.

RESULTS

High convergent validity was found between the parent-reported PODCI, PROMIS SF, and PROMIS CAT measures. A ceiling effect was found for the PODCI but not for the PROMIS. The PROMIS CAT had better discriminant validity than either the PROMIS SF or PODCI. Patient and parent outcome scores did not highly correlate. Survey time to completion varied by PRO measure and method of delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

There was high convergent validity between the UE domains of the PROMIS and PODCI, with a lower time to completion for the PROMIS SF. Although results show that the PROMIS CAT may take longer to complete, there are notable benefits to its adoption, including high convergent validity with the PODCI and better discriminant validity than the PODCI and PROMIS SF measures.

Using patient-reported outcome measures in psychiatric hospital care: an observational study describing an iterative implementation process in Denmark

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of information to enhance our understanding of the quality of healthcare from the patient's perspective.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the implementation process of the Danish nationwide PRO-Psychiatry project, including iterative tests of previously developed PRO measurement concept and an online data collection tool. Additional aims were to identify the 'best practice' for the routine use of PROs in hospital-based psychiatry and design information material about the project.

METHODS

We conducted an action-oriented observational study to explore the pilot implementation of the PRO-Psychiatry project, which was initiated in February 2018. The study was based on an iterative plan-do-learn approach. An inpatient unit and an outpatient unit from the same psychiatric department in the North Denmark Region were selected for the pilot implementation. The implementation was anchored in multidisciplinary implementation teams at unit level. These teams managed the implementation process according to four tasks defined by the department management.

RESULTS

The teams designed, tested, evaluated and adjusted the localized work practices relating to the use of PRO-Psychiatry. The comprehensibility of the predesigned PROs, the usability of the Information Technology(IT) system and the routine use of PROs during clinical consultations were repeatedly tested and adjusted until the functionality was satisfactory. Furthermore, the teams designed information material for patients (emails, posters, handouts and webpages) and clinicians (online clinical guidelines). The team members informed their colleagues about the progress of PRO-Psychiatry at staff meetings and rolled out the initiative through one-to-one teaching.

CONCLUSIONS

The pilot implementation was deemed successful. PRO-Psychiatry was rolled out to other units in the region, and a national decision was made to pilot implement the initiative in the other four Danish regions.

Patient-reported outcome measures can advance population health, but is access to instruments and use equitable?

Patient reported outcome measures (PROM) can engage patients and clinicians to improve health outcomes. Their population health impact may be limited by systematic barriers inhibiting access to completion. In this analysis we evaluated the association between individual parent/child characteristics and clinic factors with parental completion of a locally developed PROM, the Early Healthy Lifestyles (EHL) questionnaire. Participants included parent-child dyads who presented at 14 pediatric clinics for regularly scheduled well-child visits (WCV) prior to age 26 months. EHL items include feeding practices, diet, play time, screen exposure, and sleep. Completion was categorized at patient- (i.e., parent-child dyad) and clinic-levels. Parents completed the 15-item EHL in the patient portal before arrival or in the clinic; ninety-three percent of EHL questionnaires were completed in the clinic vs. 7% in the patient portal. High-completers completed EHL for half of WCVs; low-completers completed at least once; and non-completers never completed. Clinics were classified by EHL adoption level (% high completion): High-adoption: >50%; Moderate-adoption: 10%-50%; and Low-adoption: <10%. Individual-level factors had negligible impact on EHL completion within moderate/low EHL adoption sites; high-adoption sites were used to evaluate infant and maternal factors in association with EHL completion using hierarchical logistic regression. Noncompletion of EHL was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with infant use of public insurance (OR = 1.92 [1.42, 2.59]), >1 clinic site for WCV (OR = 1.83 [1.34, 2.50]), non-White birth mother (OR = 1.78 [1.28, 2.47]), and body weight <2,500 grams or gestational age <34 weeks (OR = 1.74 [1.05, 2.90]). The number of WCVs, a proxy for clinic size, was evaluated but was not associated with completion. Findings indicate potential disparities between populations exposed to, completing, and benefitting from these tools.

Augmenting systems-level implementation of patient-reported outcomes for depression care through the use of structured analysis and design technique

Background

Health systems increasingly need to implement complex practice changes such as the routine capture of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Yet, health systems have met challenges when trying to bring practice change to scale across systems at large. While implementation science can guide the evaluation of implementation determinants, teams first need tools to systematically understand and compare workflow activities across practice sites. Structured analysis and design technique (SADT), a system engineering method of workflow modeling, may offer an opportunity to enhance the scalability of implementation evaluation for complex practice change like PROs.

Method

We utilized SADT to identify the core workflow activities needed to implement PROs across diverse settings and goals for use, establishing a generalizable PRO workflow diagram. We then used the PRO workflow diagram to guide implementation monitoring and evaluation for a 1-year pilot implementation of the electronic Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (ePHQ). The pilot occurred across multiple clinical settings and for two clinical use cases: depression screening and depression management.

Results

SADT identified five activities central to the use of PROs in clinical care: deploying PRO measures, collecting PRO data, tracking PRO completion, reviewing PRO results, and documenting PRO data for future use. During the 1-year pilot, 8,596 patients received the ePHQ for depression screening via the patient portal, of which 1,719 (21%) submitted the ePHQ; 367 patients received the ePHQ for depression management, of which 174 (47%) submitted the ePHQ. We present three case examples of how the SADT PRO workflow diagram augmented implementation monitoring, tailoring, and evaluation activities.

Conclusions

Use of a generalizable PRO workflow diagram aided the ability to systematically assess barriers and facilitators to fidelity and identify needed adaptations. The use of SADT offers an opportunity to align systems science and implementation science approaches, augmenting the capacity for health systems to advance system-level implementation.

Plain Language Summary

Health systems increasingly need to implement complex practice changes such as the routine capture of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Yet these system-level changes can be challenging to manage given the variability in practice sites and implementation context across the system at large. We utilized a systems engineering method—structured analysis and design technique—to develop a generalizable diagram of PRO workflow that captures five common workflow activities: deploying PRO measures, collecting PRO data, tracking PRO completion, reviewing PRO results, and documenting PRO data for future use. Next, we used the PRO workflow diagram to guide our implementation of PROs for depression care in multiple clinics. Our experience showed that use of a standard workflow diagram supported our implementation evaluation activities in a systematic way. The use of structured analysis and design technique may enhance future implementation efforts in complex health settings.

Language, Speech, and Facial Expression Features for Artificial Intelligence-Based Detection of Cancer Survivors' Depression: Scoping Meta-Review

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors often experience disorders from the depressive spectrum that remain largely unrecognized and overlooked. Even though screening for depression is recognized as essential, several barriers prevent its successful implementation. It is possible that better screening options can be developed. New possibilities have been opening up with advances in artificial intelligence and increasing knowledge on the connection of observable cues and psychological states.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this scoping meta-review was to identify observable features of depression that can be intercepted using artificial intelligence in order to provide a stepping stone toward better recognition of depression among cancer survivors.

METHODS

We followed a methodological framework for scoping reviews. We searched SCOPUS and Web of Science for relevant papers on the topic, and data were extracted from the papers that met inclusion criteria. We used thematic analysis within 3 predefined categories of depression cues (ie, language, speech, and facial expression cues) to analyze the papers.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1023 papers, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of their findings resulted in several well-supported cues of depression in language, speech, and facial expression domains, which provides a comprehensive list of observable features that are potentially suited to be intercepted by artificial intelligence for early detection of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides a synthesis of behavioral features of depression while translating this knowledge into the context of artificial intelligence-supported screening for depression in cancer survivors.

Measuring Duchenne muscular dystrophy impact: development of a proxy-reported measure derived from PROMIS item banks

BACKGROUND

Person-reported outcomes measurement development for rare diseases has lagged behind that of more common diseases. In studies of caregivers of patients with rare diseases, one relies on proxy report to characterize this disability. It is important to measure the child's disability accurately and comprehensively because it affects caregiver burden. We aimed to create a condition-specific caregiver proxy-report measure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in order to understand the impact of DMD on the caregiver. Drawing on relevant item banks from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS), we sought to confirm their reliability and validity in the target sample of DMD caregivers.

METHODS

This web-based study recruited DMD caregivers via Rare Patient Voice, patient-advocacy groups, and word of mouth. Recruitment was stratified by age of the caregiver's child with DMD, which broadly represents stages of DMD progression: 2-7, 8-12, 13-17, and > 18. Telephone interviews with DMD parent-caregivers pretested possible measures for content validity. The web-based study utilized an algorithm to categorize respondents' ambulatory status for tailored administration of PROMIS Parent-Proxy items as well as some new items developed based on caregiver interviews. Item response theory analyses were implemented.

RESULTS

The study sample included 521 DMD caregivers representing equally the four age strata. The proxy-report measure included the following domains: fatigue impact, strength impact, cognitive function, upper extremity function, positive affect, negative affect, sleep-device symptoms, and mobility. The first five domains had strong psychometric characteristics (unidimensionality; acceptable model fit; strong standardized factor loadings; high marginal reliability). Negative Affect, covering anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychological stress, fit a bifactor model with good model fit, high marginal reliability, and strong factor loadings. The Sleep-device symptoms domain was not unidimensional, and the mobility domain did not have a simple structure due to residual correlations among items at opposite end of the mobility-disability continuum. These two domain scores were retained as clinimetric indices (i.e., uncalibrated scales), to achieve the overall goal of having a content-valid DMD-specific measure across all stages of disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study derived a DMD-specific proxy-report measure from PROMIS item banks and supplemental items that could potentially be utilized in caregiver research across all stages of the care recipient's DMD. Future research will focus on assessing the responsiveness and validity of the measure over time and its comparison to DMD patient self-report.

Systematic review of outcomes in studies of reproductive genetic carrier screening: Towards development of a core outcome set

PURPOSE

Current practice recommendations support the widespread implementation of reproductive genetic carrier screening (RGCS). These consensus-based recommendations highlight a research gap, with findings from current studies being insufficient to meet the standard required for more rigorous evidence-based recommendations. This systematic review assessed methodological aspects of studies on RGCS to inform the need for a core outcome set.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search to identify peer-reviewed published studies offering population-based RGCS. Study designs, outcomes, and measurement methods were extracted. A narrative synthesis was conducting using an existing outcome taxonomy and criteria used in the evaluation of genetic screening programs as frameworks.

RESULTS

Sixty-five publications were included. We extracted 120 outcomes representing 24 outcome domains. Heterogeneity in outcome selection, measurement methods and time points of assessment was extensive. Quality appraisal raised concerns for bias. We found that reported outcomes had limited applicability to criteria used to evaluate genetic screening programs.

CONCLUSION

Despite a large body of literature, diverse approaches to research have limited the conclusions that can be cumulatively drawn from this body of evidence. Consensus regarding meaningful outcomes for evaluation of RGCS would be a valuable first step in working towards evidence-based practice recommendations, supporting the development of a core outcome set.

Enhancing the use of EHR systems for pragmatic embedded research: lessons from the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory

OBJECTIVE

We identified challenges and solutions to using electronic health record (EHR) systems for the design and conduct of pragmatic research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since 2012, the Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory has served as the resource coordinating center for 21 pragmatic clinical trial demonstration projects. The EHR Core working group invited these demonstration projects to complete a written semistructured survey and used an inductive approach to review responses and identify EHR-related challenges and suggested EHR enhancements.

RESULTS

We received survey responses from 20 projects and identified 21 challenges that fell into 6 broad themes: (1) inadequate collection of patient-reported outcome data, (2) lack of structured data collection, (3) data standardization, (4) resources to support customization of EHRs, (5) difficulties aggregating data across sites, and (6) accessing EHR data.

DISCUSSION

Based on these findings, we formulated 6 prerequisites for PCTs that would enable the conduct of pragmatic research: (1) integrate the collection of patient-centered data into EHR systems, (2) facilitate structured research data collection by leveraging standard EHR functions, usable interfaces, and standard workflows, (3) support the creation of high-quality research data by using standards, (4) ensure adequate IT staff to support embedded research, (5) create aggregate, multidata type resources for multisite trials, and (6) create re-usable and automated queries.

CONCLUSION

We are hopeful our collection of specific EHR challenges and research needs will drive health system leaders, policymakers, and EHR designers to support these suggestions to improve our national capacity for generating real-world evidence.

A learning health systems approach to integrating electronic patient-reported outcomes across the health care organization

INTRODUCTION

Foundational to a learning health system (LHS) is the presence of a data infrastructure that can support continuous learning and improve patient outcomes. To advance their capacity to drive patient-centered care, health systems are increasingly looking to expand the electronic capture of patient data, such as electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) measures. Yet ePROs bring unique considerations around workflow, measurement, and technology that health systems may not be poised to navigate. We report on our effort to develop generalizable learnings that can support the integration of ePROs into clinical practice within an LHS framework.

METHODS

Guided by action research methodology, we engaged in iterative cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting around ePRO use with two primary goals: (1) mobilize an ePRO community of practice to facilitate knowledge sharing, and (2) establish guidelines for ePRO use in the context of LHS practice. Multiple, emergent data collection activities generated generalizable guidelines that document the tangible best practices for ePRO use in clinical care. We organized guidelines around thematic areas that reflect LHS structures and stakeholders.

RESULTS

Three core thematic areas (and 24 guidelines) emerged. The theme of governance reflects the importance of leadership, knowledge management, and facilitating organizational learning around best practice models for ePRO use. The theme of integration considers the intersection of workflow, technology, and human factors for ePROs across areas of care delivery. Lastly, the theme of reporting reflects critical considerations for curating data and information, designing system functions and interactions, and presentation of ePRO data to support the translation of knowledge to action.

CONCLUSIONS

The guidelines produced from this work highlight the complex, multidisciplinary nature of implementing change within LHS contexts, and the value of action research approaches to enable rapid, iterative learning that leverages the knowledge and experience of communities of practice.

Supporting Patient-Clinician Interaction in Chronic HIV Care: Design and Development of a Patient-Reported Outcomes Software Application

BACKGROUND

The consideration of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a hallmark of best practice in HIV care. Information technology offers an opportunity to more closely engage patients with chronic HIV infection in their long-term management and support a focus on HRQL. However, the implementation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, such as HRQL in routine care, is challenged by the need to synthesize data generated by questionnaires, the complexity of collecting data between patient visits, and the integration of results into clinical decision-making processes.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim is to design and pilot-test a multimedia software platform to overcome these challenges and provide a vehicle to increase focus on HRQL issues in HIV management.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary team in France and Australia conducted the study with 120 patients and 16 doctors contributing to the design and development of the software. We used agile development principles, user-centered design, and qualitative research methods to develop and pilot the software platform. We developed a prototype application to determine the acceptability of the software and piloted the final version with 41 Australian and 19 French residents using 2 validated electronic questionnaires, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items, and the Patient Reported Outcomes Quality of Life-HIV.

RESULTS

Testing of the prototype demonstrated that patients wanted an application that was intuitive and without excessive instruction, so it felt effortless to use, as well as secure and discreet. Clinicians wanted the PRO data synthesized, presented clearly and succinctly, and clinically actionable. Safety concerns for patients and clinicians included confidentiality, and the potential for breakdown in communication if insufficient user training was not provided. The final product, piloted with patients from both countries, showed that most respondents found the application easy to use and comprehend. The usability testing survey administered found that older Australians had reduced scores for understanding the visual interface (P=.004) and finding the buttons organized (P=.02). Three-fourths of the respondents were concerned with confidentiality (P=.007), and this result was more prevalent in participants with higher anxiety and stress scores (P=.01), as measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items. These statistical associations were not observed in 15 French patients who completed the same questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital applications in health care should be safe and fit for purpose. Our software was acceptable to patients and shows potential to overcome some barriers to the implementation of PROs in routine care. The design of the clinicians' interface presents a solution to the problem of voluminous data, both synthesizing and providing a snapshot of longitudinal data. The next stage is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine whether patients experience increased satisfaction with care and whether doctors perceive that they deliver better clinical care without compromising efficiency.

Ethnography and user-centered design to inform context-driven implementation

Despite pervasive findings pointing to its inextricable role in intervention implementation, context remains poorly understood in implementation science. Existing approaches for describing context (e.g., surveys, interviews) may be narrow in scope or superficial in their elicitation of contextual data. Thus, in-depth and multilevel approaches are needed to meaningfully describe the contexts into which interventions will be implemented. Moreover, many studies assess context without subsequently using contextual information to enhance implementation. To be useful for improving implementation, though, methods are needed to apply contextual information during implementation. In the case example presented in this paper, we embedded an ethnographic assessment of context within a user-centered design approach to describe implementation context and apply that information to promote implementation. We developed a patient-reported outcome measure-based clinical intervention to assess and address the pervasive unmet needs of young adults with cancer: the Needs Assessment & Service Bridge (NA-SB). In this paper, we describe the user-centered design process that we used to anticipate context modifications needed to deliver NA-SB and implementation strategies needed to facilitate its implementation. Our ethnographic contextual inquiry yielded a rich understanding of local implementation context and contextual variation across potential scale-up contexts. Other methods from user-centered design (i.e., translation tables and a design team prototyping workshop) allowed us to translate that information into specifications for NA-SB delivery and a plan for implementation. Embedding ethnographic methods within a user-centered design approach can help us to tailor interventions and implementation strategies to their contexts of use to promote implementation.

Multilingual Conversational Systems to Drive the Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Integration into Clinical Workflows

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and their use in the clinical workflow can improve cancer survivors’ outcomes and quality of life. However, there are several challenges regarding efficient collection of the patient-reported outcomes and their integration into the clinical workflow. Patient adherence and interoperability are recognized as main barriers. This work implements a cancer-related study which interconnects artificial intelligence (spoken language algorithms, conversational intelligence) and natural sciences (embodied conversational agents) to create an omni-comprehensive system enabling symmetric computer-mediated interaction. Its goal is to collect patient information and integrate it into clinical routine as digital patient resources (the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). To further increase convenience and simplicity of the data collection, a multimodal sensing network is delivered. In this paper, we introduce the main components of the system, including the mHealth application, the Open Health Connect platform, and algorithms to deliver speech enabled 3D embodied conversational agent to interact with the cancer survivors in five different languages. The system integrates cancer patients’ reported information as patient gathered health data into their digital clinical record. The value and impact of the integration will be further evaluated in the clinical study.

Healthcare provider characteristics that influence the implementation of individual-level patient-centered outcome measure (PROM) and patient-reported experience measure (PREM) data across practice settings: a protocol for a mixed methods systematic review with a narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Substantial literature has highlighted the importance of patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs, respectively) to collect clinically relevant information to better understand and address what matters to patients. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence about how healthcare providers implement individual-level PROMs and PREMs data into daily practice.

METHODS

This mixed methods systematic review protocol describes the design of our synthesis of the peer-reviewed research evidence (i.e., qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods), systematic reviews, organizational implementation projects, expert opinion, and grey literature. Keyword synonyms for "PROMs," PREMs," and "implementation" will be used to search eight databases (i.e., MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Evidence-based Medicine Reviews, and ProQuest (Dissertation and Theses)) with limiters of English from 2009 onwards. Study selection criteria include implementation at the point-of-care by healthcare providers in any practice setting. Eligible studies will be critically appraised using validated tools (e.g., Joanna Briggs Institute). Guided by the review questions, data extraction and synthesis will occur simultaneously to identify biographical information and methodological characteristics as well as classify study findings related to implementation processes and strategies. As part of the narrative synthesis approach, two frameworks will be utilized: (a) Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to identify influential factors of PROMs and PREMs implementation and (b) Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) to illicit strategies. Data management will be undertaken using NVivo 12TM.

DISCUSSION

Data from PROMs and PREMs are critical to adopt a person-centered approach to healthcare. Findings from this review will guide subsequent phases of a larger project that includes interviews and a consensus-building forum with end users to create guidelines for implementing PROMs and PREMs at the point of care.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020182904 .

The Head and Neck Survivorship Tool (HN-STAR) Trial (WF-1805CD): A protocol for a cluster-randomized, hybrid effectiveness-implementation, pragmatic trial to improve the follow-up care of head and neck cancer survivors

Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) can have multiple health concerns. To facilitate their care, we developed and pilot-tested a clinical informatics intervention, HN-STAR. HN-STAR elicits concerns online from HNC survivors prior to a routine oncology clinic visit. HN-STAR then presents tailored evidence-based clinical recommendations as a clinical decision support tool to be used during the visit where the oncology clinician and survivor select symptom management strategies and other actions. This generates a survivorship care plan (SCP). Online elicitation of health concerns occurs 3, 6, and 9 months after the clinic visit, generating an updated SCP each time. HN-STAR encompasses important methods of improving survivorship care (e.g., needs assessment, tailored interventions, dissemination of guidelines) and will be evaluated in a pragmatic trial to maximize external validity. This hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial tests HN-STAR effectiveness while studying barriers and facilitators to implementation in community oncology practices within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program. Effectiveness will be measured as differences in key survivorship outcomes between HNC participants who do and do not use HN-STAR over one year after the clinic visit. The primary endpoint is HNC-specific quality of life; other outcomes include patient-centered measures and receipt of guideline-concordant care. Implementation outcomes will be assessed of survivors, providers, and clinic stakeholders. The hybrid design will provide insight into a dose-response relationship between the extent of implementation fidelity and effectiveness outcomes, as well as how to incorporate HN-STAR into standard practice outside the research setting.

Making the Case for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Big-Data Rehabilitation Research: Implications for Optimizing Patient-Centered Care

Advances in data science and timely access to health informatics provide a pathway to integrate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into clinical workflows and optimize rehabilitation service delivery. With the shift toward value-based care in the United States health care system, as highlighted by the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services incentive and penalty programs, it is critical for rehabilitation providers to systematically collect and effectively use PROMs to facilitate evaluation of quality and outcomes within and across health systems. This editorial discusses the potential of PROMs to transform clinical practice, provides examples of health systems using PROMs to guide care, and identifies barriers to aggregating data from PROMs to conduct health services research. The article proposes 2 priority areas to help advance rehabilitation health services research: (1) standardization of collecting PROMs data in electronic health records to facilitate comparing health system performance and quality and (2) increased partnerships between rehabilitation providers, researchers, and payors to accelerate health system learning. As health care reform continues to emphasize value-based payment strategies, it is essential for the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation to be at the forefront of demonstrating its value in the care continuum.

Healthcare systems approach to patient reported outcomes-benefits and challenges in thoracic surgery

Quality outcomes are the ultimate goal for our thoracic surgery patients. The collection of data to measure the outcomes have been in place for many years and yet are insufficient. The inclusion of patient reported outcomes (PROs) into data reporting, collection and analysis will help to truly understand what matters most to patients and allow us to provide value-based care every time. It is the responsibility of the healthcare system to provide the resources in order to leverage the patient voice and collect meaningful PROs that can influence the best outcomes possible.

Normative data for the EORTC QLQ-C30 from the Austrian general population

Background

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 is a widely used cancer-specific questionnaire assessing 15 domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our aim was to facilitate the interpretation of scores on this questionnaire by providing Austrian normative data based on a general population sample.

Methods

The calculation of normative data was based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 data collected from an Austrian general population sample that was part of an international online panel study on the development of European normative data. Data reported herein were stratified and weighted by age and sex. Normative data were calculated for all 15 HRQoL domains of the EORTC QLQ-C30. For precise predictions of EORTC QLQ-C30 scores, a regression model based on sex, age and the presence of health conditions was built.

Results

The Austrian sample comprised 1002 Austrian participants (50.1% female, 51.4% when weighted by age and sex based on United Nation statistics). The mean age was 53.7 years (weighted: 47.7 years) and 53.6% (weighted: 47.4%) reported at least one health condition. Men reported better physical (Cohen’s d = 0.17) and emotional (Cohen’s d = 0.17) functioning as well as less fatigue (Cohen’s d = 0.18) and insomnia (Cohen’s d = 0.25) compared with women. Younger individuals (< 40 years) reported less dyspnea (Cohen’s d = 0.61) and pain (Cohen’s d = 0.51), whereas older individuals (≥60 years) reported better emotional functioning (Cohen’s d = 0.55).

Conclusions

We present Austrian normative data for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Differences by age and sex are mostly in line with the findings of other European normative studies. The Austrian population sample shows higher HRQoL and lower morbidity compared with other European countries. The normative data in this study will facilitate the interpretation of EORTC QLQ-C30 scores in oncological practice and research at a national and international level (including cross-cultural comparisons).

Leveraging Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement via the Electronic Health Record to Connect Patients with Cancer to Smoking Cessation Treatment

Tobacco use negatively impacts cancer treatment outcomes, yet too few providers actively support their patients in quitting. Barriers to consistently addressing tobacco use and referring to treatment include time constraints and lack of knowledge surrounding treatment options. Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) measurement is best practice in cancer care and has potential to help address these barriers to tobacco cessation treatment. This descriptive program evaluation study reports preliminary results following implementation of a novel automated PRO tobacco use screener and referral system via the electronic health record (EHR) patient portal (MyChart) that was developed and implemented as a part of a population-based tobacco treatment program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Between 25 June 2019 and 6 April 2020, 4589 unique patients completed the screener and 164 (3.6%) unique patients screened positive for recent (past month) cigarette smoking. All patients who screened positive were automatically referred to a smoking cessation treatment program integrated within the Lurie Cancer Center, and 71 (49.7%) patients engaged in treatment, as defined by completing at least one behavioral counseling session. Preliminary results indicate that the PRO/MyChart system may improve smoker identification and increase offering of treatment and, despite the "cold call" following a positive screen, may result in a treatment engagement rate that is higher than rates of treatment engagement previously documented in oncology settings. Longer term evaluation with formal statistical testing is needed before drawing conclusions regarding effectiveness, but PRO measurement via the EHR patient portal may serve a potentially important role in a multi-component approach to reaching and engaging cancer patients in comprehensive tobacco cessation treatment.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): can they be used to guide patient-centered care and optimize outcomes in total knee replacement?

PURPOSE

As patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly integrated into clinical practice, there is a need to translate collected data into valuable information to guide and improve the quality and value of patient care. The purpose of this study was to investigate health-related quality-of-life (QoL) trajectories in the 5 years following total knee replacement (TKR) and the patient characteristics associated with these trajectories. The feasibility of translating QoL trajectories into valuable information for guiding patient-centered care was also explored.

METHODS

Data on patients who underwent TKR between 2006 and 2011 from a single-institution registry were extracted including patient-reported QoL (captured using the Short Form Survey (SF-12) instrument) up to 5 years post-surgery. QoL trajectories were modelled using latent class growth analysis. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated to illustrate longer term health benefit. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between trajectory groups and baseline patient characteristics.

RESULTS

After exclusions, 1553 patients out of 1892 were included in the analysis. Six unique QoL trajectories were identified; with differing levels at baseline and improvement patterns post-surgery. Only 18.4% of patients were identified to be in the most positive QoL trajectory (low baseline, large sustainable improvement after surgery) associated with the greatest gain in QALY. These patients were likely to be younger, have no co-morbidities and report greater pain at pre-surgery than most in other QoL trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate the importance of underlying heterogeneity in QoL trajectories, resulting in variable QALY gains. There is scope in translating routinely collected PROMs to improve shared decision-making allowing for more patient engagement. However, further research is required to identify suitable approaches of its implementation into practice to guide clinical care and maximize patient outcomes.

"It ain't over … till it's over!" Risk-mitigation strategies for patients with gastrointestinal diseases in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

The available COVID-19 literature has focused on specific disease manifestations, infection control, and delivery or prioritization of services for specific patient groups in the setting of the acute COVID-19 pandemic. Local health systems aim to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and hospitals and health-care providers rush to provide the capacity for a surge of COVID-19 patients. However, the short, medium-term, and long-term outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases without COVID-19 will be affected by the ability to develop locally adapted strategies to meet their service needs in the COVID-19 setting. To mitigate risks for patients with GI diseases, it is useful to differentiate three phases: (i) the acute phase, (ii) the adaptation phase, and (iii) the consolidation phase. During the acute phase, service delivery for patients with GI disease will be curtailed to meet competing health-care needs of COVID-19 patients. During the adaptation phase, GI services are calibrated towards a "new normal," and the consolidation phase is characterized by rapid introduction and ongoing refinement of services. Proactive planning with engagement of relevant stakeholders including consumer representatives is required to be prepared for a variety of scenarios that are dictated by thus far undefined long-term economic and societal impacts of the pandemic. Because substantial changes to the delivery of services are likely to occur, it is important that these changes are embedded into quality and research frameworks to ensure that data are generated that support evidence-based decision-making during the adaptation and consolidation phases.

Translating clinical and patient-reported data to tailored shared decision reports with predictive analytics for knee and hip arthritis

Introduction

New informatics tools can transform evidence-based information to individualized predictive reports to serve shared decisions in clinic. We developed a web-based system to collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and medical risk factors and to compare responses to national registry data. The system generates predicted outcomes for individual patients and a report for use in clinic to support decisions. We present the report development, presentation, and early experience implementing this PRO-based, shared decision report for knee and hip arthritis patients seeking orthopedic evaluation.

Methods

Iterative patient and clinician interviews defined report content and visual display. The web-system supports: (a) collection of PROs and risk data at home or in office, (b) automated statistical processing of responses compared to national data, (c) individualized estimates of likely pain relief and functional gain if surgery is elected, and (d) graphical reports to support shared decisions. The system was implemented at 12 sites with 26 surgeons in an ongoing cluster randomized trial.

Results

Clinicians and patients recommended that pain and function as well as clinical risk factors (e.g., BMI, smoking) be presented to frame the discussion. Color and graphics support patient understanding. To date, 7891 patients completed the assessment before the visit and 56% consented to study participation. Reports were generated for 98% of patients and 68% of patients recalled reviewing the report with their surgeon.

Conclusions

Informatics solutions can generate timely, tailored office reports including PROs and predictive analytics. Patients successfully complete the pre-visit PRO assessments and clinicians and patients value the report to support shared surgical decisions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11136-020-02557-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Innovations in research and clinical care using patient-generated health data

Patient-generated health data (PGHD), or health-related data gathered from patients to help address a health concern, are used increasingly in oncology to make regulatory decisions and evaluate quality of care. PGHD include self-reported health and treatment histories, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and biometric sensor data. Advances in wireless technology, smartphones, and the Internet of Things have facilitated new ways to collect PGHD during clinic visits and in daily life. The goal of the current review was to provide an overview of the current clinical, regulatory, technological, and analytic landscape as it relates to PGHD in oncology research and care. The review begins with a rationale for PGHD as described by the US Food and Drug Administration, the Institute of Medicine, and other regulatory and scientific organizations. The evidence base for clinic-based and remote symptom monitoring using PGHD is described, with an emphasis on PROs. An overview is presented of current approaches to digital phenotyping or device-based, real-time assessment of biometric, behavioral, self-report, and performance data. Analytic opportunities regarding PGHD are envisioned in the context of big data and artificial intelligence in medicine. Finally, challenges and solutions for the integration of PGHD into clinical care are presented. The challenges include electronic medical record integration of PROs and biometric data, analysis of large and complex biometric data sets, and potential clinic workflow redesign. In addition, there is currently more limited evidence for the use of biometric data relative to PROs. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of PGHD make them increasingly likely to be integrated into oncology research and clinical care.