Quality and resource management

can be achieved by linking PRO data with clinical care pathways.

Example: PRO-based stepped care approach to allocate supportive measures

• Step 1: PRO data indicate low symptom burden: PRO-based self-management advice
• Step 2: PRO data indicate moderate symptom burden: PRO-based counselling 
• Step 3: PRO data indicate severe symptom burden: Expert referral and targeted treatment

PROMs can be used for internal quality monitoring and comparisons across wards or institutions

Example 1: tracking symptoms/functioning over time in comparison with initiated supportive measures to examine adherence to guideline recommendations

Example 2: comparing patient satisfaction and PRO data across institutions

Economic studies^1,2 show that PROMs can save costs in cancer care and are a cost-effective way to improve cancer care through

• early detection of patient burden and avoiding time and cost-intensive complications
• optimisation of resource allocation.