PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES IN OPTIMIZING MYELOMA PATIENTS' HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

OBJECTIVE: To review the current state of evidence for the use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in optimizing best supportive care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). DATA SOURCES: Peer-reviewed journal articles, research reports, state of the science papers, and clinical guidelines. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and treatment of MM negatively impacts an individual's HRQoL. Validated self-report tools that assess HRQoL and other PROs provide an insight into how the treatment or disease is impacting the individual, enabling early recognition of physical and emotional concerns. There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of PROs in assessing HRQoL in MM in clinical care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: There is a clear benefit for nurses to utilize PROs for patients with MM in order to obtain an understanding of how the treatment effects HRQoL. Thoughtful use of PRO measures can enable nurses to individualize supportive care interventions to meet the specific needs of the patient, and facilitate timely access to optimal symptom support.