Current interventions involving patient-reported outcomes measurements (PROMs) in cancer treatment are associated with modest reduction of pain intensity in cancer patients, according to systematic review of randomised controlled trials that collected patient-reported measurements of pain related to cancer and its treatment.
The study carried out by researchers at Aberdeen University, provides a guide to how to improve the existing PROMs feedback methods in cancer pain management.
“Patients with cancer can provide their own data to guide management,” the study says. “The challenges are to provide effective transfer of information and to ensure clinicians act on this information in order to improve pain control.”