Patient symptom and quality of life assessments must be inclusive and equitable

Patient Recorded Outcome (PRO) information is commonly collected in both clinical trials and clinical practice and ensures that the patient’s perspective is at the heart of decision making. As use of these data become more commonplace, however, researchers in the University of Birmingham's Centre for Patient-Reported Outcomes Research are calling for more to be done to ensure such information can be provided by everybody.

In an article published today 5 May 2022 in Nature Medicine, researchers in collaboration with patients, regulators and international experts identify some of the barriers to participation such as access to technology, disability, language and cultural requirements and call for these to be addressed.

Lead author, Professor Melanie Calvert, said: “When we start to embrace new approaches to healthcare, such as use of patient-reported outcomes, we need to make sure that barriers to participation are addressed at an early stage. If we don’t do this, the gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged populations will only get worse.

“Representative diversity in clinical trials is vital to ensure new medicines and technologies are applicable to the population they are intended to serve. Targeted initiatives are needed to ensure that no groups are excluded from participation in patient-reported outcome data collection, both in research settings and routine clinical care.”

Rav Verdi, a patient partner who co-authored the work, said: “As a patient and living in a cosmopolitan society it’s encouraging to see that all walks of life have been considered and a means of communication thought about to glean information from the patient and to provide information to the patient regarding their care and treatment. As world-wide issue, information could be shared with treatment centres to provide better care and understanding of different groups of the population.”

Roger Wilson, a patient partner adds: “Listening to patients reveals the range of diversity which must be understood and allowed for by careful design if a study is to offer benefits to society equitably.”

Professor Calvert adds: “Patient-reported outcome measures and data collection must be reflective of diverse and multicultural societies, to improve research and promote equitable clinical care for the benefit of all patients and the public as a whole.”

Lisa Campbell, Senior Medical Assessor at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and co-author says: “Ensuring all patients are included and listened to early in the development process of a new treatment can help companies and research groups design the most appropriate clinical trials. These new considerations should serve as a guide for effective patient involvement in research so we can achieve better outcomes for all.”

Dr Elin Haf Davies, CEO of Aparito: "As we welcome the broader adoption of PROs, we are mindful that it does not lead to greater inequality in healthcare access, from digital exclusion and more. These ethical considerations are important to guide us in how we move this work forward for the benefit of all."

The team are supported by a number of funders including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR); Biomedical Research Centre Birmingham; and Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands, Health Data Research UK and UK SPINE.