Implementation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Patients Undergoing Oral Cancer Surgery

India has the highest number of oral cancer cases worldwide, accounting for one-third of the global total. Though better surgical and chemo-radiation protocols have improved disease related outcomes, the debilitating effect of these therapeutic interventions continue to have a negative impact on the patients’ quality of life (QoL) , in terms of altered taste and mastication, swallowing and speech impairment, cosmetic disfigurement, restricted mouth opening, mucositis, weight loss, cachexia, depression and anxiety

Symptom monitoring via patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) offers an evidence-based approach to detecting symptoms which can provide critical information to clinicians, thereby improving clinical management. PROMs can also be used to foster communication between patients and clinicians, help facilitate an optimal rehabilitative program and improve QoL.

Problem Statement – What we cannot assess, we cannot address.

PROMs are currently being recorded only for patients enrolled in clinical trials at our tertiary cancer centre in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Early identification of the major concerns our patients are facing through PROMs might improve patient -clinician communication and allow us to provide multidisciplinary interventions if indicated. However, integration of PROMs into our existing system will be resource intensive and may cause additional stress on both patients and clinicians. Therefore, it is essential to establish that all invested partners are on board before implementing the same.