Optimizing Patient-Reported Outcomes Data
Following the success of the AYA
PRO Task Force18, leaders from the BSC, Nursing, and
Cancer Control committees are co-leading a new PRO Optimization Task
Force to enhance the capacity and efficiency of patient- and
caregiver-reported outcomes among youth <15 years of age.
Valid measurement of PROs is essential to ongoing and future clinical
trials focused on improving patient and family functioning during and
after cancer treatment. There are many unique issues to consider for
this age group, including the inclusion of multiple raters (e.g., child,
caregiver, teacher) to account for developmental differences and
functioning across settings and the wide range of cognitive, social, and
emotional outcomes. This task force aims to develop a PRO battery to
address the unique needs of children that is flexible to address
study-specific aims. Other goals include expanding expertise within COG
for the design and analysis of PRO endpoints, and developing
infrastructure for optimal and efficient (i.e., electronic) capture of
PRO data.