Seizing the moment: The time for harnessing electronic patient-reported outcome measures for enhanced and sustainable metastatic breast cancer care is now
K.M. de Ligt,
L.B. Koppert,
B.H. de Rooij,
L.V. van de Poll-Franse,
G. Velikova,
F. Cardoso
Affiliations
K.M. de Ligt
Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.
L.B. Koppert
Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
B.H. de Rooij
Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Godebaldkwartier 419, 3511 DT, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, the Netherlands
L.V. van de Poll-Franse
Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Godebaldkwartier 419, 3511 DT, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
G. Velikova
Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom; Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's University Hospital, Beckett St, Harehills, LS9 7LP, Leeds, United Kingdom
F. Cardoso
Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília s/n, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal
The sustainability of healthcare systems is under pressure. Unlike care for many other chronic diseases, cancer care has yet to empower patients in effectively self-managing both the medical and emotional consequences of their condition, including adapting to changes in lifestyle and work, which is essential to achieve optimal health and recovery. Although proposed as a potential solution for sustainable healthcare and support for optimal health and recovery already decades ago, practical implementation of digital care lags behind.We believe electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROMs) could play an important role in creating sustainable healthcare, both to guide complex treatment pathways and to empower survivors to self-manage consequences of diagnosis and treatment. That is, ePROMs can be used for screening and monitoring of symptoms, but also for treatment decision-making and to facilitate communication about quality of life. We therefore see opportunities for improvements in quality of care, quality of life, and survival of cancer patients, as well as research opportunities, as ePROMs collection can lead to better understanding of care needs. The ‘10 Actions for Change report’ of the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance stresses a critical need for improvement of care for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. We therefore in this paper focus on MBC care and research.
