Contribution of patient-reported outcomes to improving treatment outcomes Radical prostatectomy in DKG-certified centers

Background Patient-reported outcomes measurements (PROM) have proven to be a useful addition to traditional objective methods of measurements, involving many aspects of oncology. PROMs allow for a valid assessment of disease progression and therapeutic response from the patient's perspective and therefore contribute to long-term treatment satisfaction. Results Case-mix-adjusted PROM reports as part of the Prostate Cancer Outcome (PCO) Study have shown significant variations in functional outcomes of prostate cancer patients following local treatment in certified cancer centers in Germany. Conclusions In this article, current literature data on appropriate interventions to improve radical prostatectomy outcomes are discussed. International collaborative projects regarding quality improvement have effectively shown the implementation of surgical training interventions to enhance patient-reported outcomes and promote the concept of learning from each other.