Understanding why cancer patients don't report their outcomes
Official title: Nonresponse of Patient-reported Outcomes in Routine Cancer Care
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10953291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some cancer patients don’t fill out surveys about their health experiences, so we can find better ways to make sure everyone's voice is heard and their needs are met in their care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $179,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03CA292987-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10953291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include cancer patients who have been asked to provide feedback on their treatment experiences but have not responded.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently undergoing cancer treatment or those who have not been asked to provide patient-reported outcomes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons why cancer patients may not respond to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which are essential for improving communication between patients and clinicians. By identifying the underlying causes of nonresponse, the study aims to develop new strategies to enhance the representativeness of the data collected in routine cancer care. This will help ensure that the experiences and needs of all patients, especially those from underrepresented groups, are accurately captured and addressed in their treatment plans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more equitable and effective cancer care by ensuring that patient feedback is accurately represented and utilized.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving the collection of patient-reported outcomes can enhance care quality, indicating that addressing nonresponse may also yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeng, Chengbo — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zeng, Chengbo
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.