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.