Health outcome and economic measurement in breast cancer surgery: Challenges and opportunities Journal Article


Authors: Cano, S.; Klassen, A. F.; Scott, A.; Thoma, A.; Feeny, D.; Pusic, A.
Article Title: Health outcome and economic measurement in breast cancer surgery: Challenges and opportunities
Abstract: As breast cancer surgery techniques continue to advance, treatment options continue to increase, bringing with them increased scrutiny of health outcomes and healthcare cost. In addition, patients are becoming more involved in their own medical care and are demanding meaningful data to help them better understand expected outcomes. With these changes and advancements, there is a growing emphasis on evidence-based practice. In this article, we focus on scientific considerations, challenges to and opportunities for improving outcome measurement related to breast cancer surgery. There are two main messages from this article. First, until recently, rigorously developed specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures for breast cancer surgery patients have not been available for use. However, with the recent introduction of new PRO measures, such as the BREAST-Q, there is now good potential to collect useful outcome data on patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life, and to better understand the relative impact of different surgical procedures, decision making and clinical practice on patient outcome. Thus, PRO research using rigorously developed breast cancer surgery-specific measures is in its infancy, but growing steadily. Second, there is a great need but lack of specific health economic measures developed for use in breast cancer surgery research. In fact, research into the economic evaluation of breast cancer surgery is an area that has received less attention than that of PRO measure development, but there is good opportunity to expand this area of research in breast cancer surgery. Further studies are required to gain a clearer view of the role that generic preference and utility measures could play, how best to synthesize health-related quality of life and economic metrics data, and the potential use of new disease-specific tools. © 2010 Expert Reviews Ltd.
Keywords: cancer survival; treatment outcome; patient satisfaction; cancer surgery; surgical technique; review; outcome assessment; clinical practice; evidence-based medicine; medical decision making; quality of life; breast cancer; mastectomy; evidence based practice; breast neoplasms; self report; outcome assessment (health care); questionnaires; health care quality; health economics; questionnaire; utility; short form 36; health care costs; quality adjusted life year; psychometrics; psychometry; eq-5d; health related-quality of life; health utilities index; patient-reported outcome measures; cost utility analysis; economic evaluation
Journal Title: Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1473-7167
Publisher: Informa Healthcare  
Date Published: 2010-10-01
Start Page: 583
End Page: 594
Language: English
DOI: 10.1586/erp.10.61
PUBMED: 20950073
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "CODEN: ERPOB" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Andrea Pusic
    300 Pusic
  2. Amie Marie Scott
    45 Scott