International perspectives on suboptimal patient-reported outcome trial design and reporting in cancer clinical trials: a qualitative study.
Author
Retzer, AmeetaCalvert, Melanie
Ahmed, Khaled
Keeley, Thomas
Armes, Jo
Brown, Julia M
Calman, Lynn
Gavin, Anna
Glaser, Adam W
Greenfield, Diana M
Lanceley, Anne
Taylor, Rachel M
Velikova, Galina
Brundage, Michael
Efficace, Fabio
Mercieca-Bebber, Rebecca
King, Madeleine T
Kyte, Derek
Publication date
2021-07-05Subject
Oncology. Pathology.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose: Evidence suggests that the patient-reported outcome (PRO) content of cancer trial protocols is frequently inadequate and non-reporting of PRO findings is widespread. This qualitative study examined the factors influencing suboptimal PRO protocol content, implementation, and reporting, and use of PRO data during clinical interactions. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four stakeholder groups: (1) trialists and chief investigators; (2) people with lived experience of cancer; (3) international experts in PRO cancer trial design; (4) journal editors, funding panelists, and regulatory agencies. Data were analyzed using directed thematic analysis with an iterative coding frame. Results: Forty-four interviews were undertaken. Several factors were identified that could influenced effective integration of PROs into trials and subsequent findings. Participants described (1) late inclusion of PROs in trial design; (2) PROs being considered a lower priority outcome compared to survival; (3) trialists' reluctance to collect or report PROs due to participant burden, missing data, and perceived reticence of journals to publish; (4) lack of staff training. Strategies to address these included training research personnel and improved communication with site staff and patients regarding the value of PROs. Examples of good practice were identified. Conclusion: Misconceptions relating to PRO methodology and its use may undermine their planning, collection, and reporting. There is a role for funding, regulatory, methodological, and journalistic institutions to address perceptions around the value of PROs, their position within the trial outcomes hierarchy, that PRO training and guidance is available, signposted, and readily accessible, with accompanying measures to ensure compliance with international best practice guidelines.Citation
Retzer A, Calvert M, Ahmed K, Keeley T, Armes J, Brown JM, Calman L, Gavin A, Glaser AW, Greenfield DM, Lanceley A, Taylor RM, Velikova G, Brundage M, Efficace F, Mercieca-Bebber R, King MT, Kyte D. International perspectives on suboptimal patient-reported outcome trial design and reporting in cancer clinical trials: A qualitative study. Cancer Med. 2021 Aug;10(16):5475-5487. doi: 10.1002/cam4.4111. Epub 2021 Jul 5Type
ArticleOther
Additional Links
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7634PMID
34219395Journal
Cancer MedicinePublisher
John Wiley and Sonsae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1002/cam4.4111