Developing symptom management quality improvement reports with data from a registry-based patient reported outcomes (PRO) collection method.

Abstract

180 Background: Symptom management is critical to quality cancer care, affecting treatment completion, functioning and quality of life. We describe the use of the Commission on Cancer’s Rapid Quality Reporting System (RQRS) to ascertain cases for PRO collection, identify key PRO quality indicators, and provide actionable symptom management quality improvement (QI) reports to community cancer centers (CCC). Methods: The Patient Reported Outcomes Symptoms & Side Effects Study used RQRS to sample patients (pt) 4-12 months from diagnosis with locoregional breast/colon from 17 National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program centers. Surveys were mailed with web option. Pts were asked if they talked to a health professional about pain (Talk about) and, separately, if the health professional gave advice about what to do if pain started, got worse, or came back (Advice). Similar questions were asked about fatigue and emotional distress (ED). QI reports were designed with CCC staff feedback and produced for each CCC providing crude and case-mix adjusted CCC-specific rates, and study-wide rates. Direct standardization methods were used to adjust CCC-specific rates for cancer type and education. Results: 2,487 eligible participants responded (RR=61%). This table shows overall study-wide estimates and the range of adjusted CCC-specific estimates for six key indicators. (See Table.) Conclusions: This pilot study shows the registry-based method for PRO collection was successful and has potential for wider dissemination. Study-wide, 20-45% of pts did not report discussing or getting advice about three common symptoms from their healthcare team. CCCs varied significantly on these indicators, suggesting room for improvement. Quality reports were well received by hospital staff, who report sharing them with clinicians, navigators and cancer committees. CCC-specific reports may promote efforts to improve care through professional/patient education and applying standards of care. [Table: see text]