Designing, Implementing and Interpreting Patient Reported Outcomes in Clinical Investigation

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are a key component of evaluating cancer therapy. For clinical trialists, the proper design, implementation and evaluation of patient reported outcomes is critical for designing studies that will impact and inform daily practice. A patient directed survey that is not well designed or selected could lead to wasted effort and unforeseen challenges. For clinicians, understanding how patient reported outcomes complement physician and provider reported outcomes, as well as pitfalls of evaluating patient reported outcomes is important. PROs can also be used to trigger clinical intervention and support. This activity provides four key aspects of patient reported outcomes: The methodology of designing PROs, issues in the implementation of PROs in clinical trials, how PROs can be an intervention, and how to interpret PROs in clinical trials. This activity was generated by the ASTRO Science Education and Program Development (SEPD) Committee and reflects the inclusion of scientific content and new scientific advances in the field.

Topics:

  1. Application of PRO's to Clinical Trials
    Deborah W. Bruner, PhD, RN, FAAN
  2. Methodology of PRO Design 
    Minh Tam Truong, MD, MBA, MBBS, FASTRO
  3. Implementation of PRO's and PRO's as an Intervention
    Erin F. Gillespie, MD, MPH
  4. Q and A
    Erin F. Gillespie, MD, MPH
    Full Panel

This activity is available from September 23, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on September 22, 2027. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses and residents.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the key steps to valid patient survey creation.  
  • Identify key concepts in implementation science for successful application of patient reported outcomes. 
  • Explain how to evaluate patient reported outcomes. 
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
09/23/2025
Course expires: 
09/22/2027
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0
  • Erin F. Gillespie, MD, MPH, is employed by University of California, San Diego. Dr. Gillespie serves an uncompensated role as Co-founder of eContour.  
  • Minh Tam Truong, MD, MBA, MBBS, FASTRO, is employed by Boston University Medical Center.
  • Deborah W. Bruner, PhD, RN, FAAN, is employed by Emory University. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$149.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $49

If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date. 

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until September 22, 2027, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date. 

Required Hardware/software

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