SISAQOL-IMI consensus-based guidelines to design, analyse, interpret, and present patient-reported outcomes in cancer clinical trials

Abstract

Standardising the implementation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical trials is crucial for evaluating the benefits and risks of cancer treatments. The Setting International Standards in Analysing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Endpoints in Cancer Clinical Trials-Innovative Medicines Initiative (SISAQOL-IMI) has developed 146 consensus-based recommendations for designing, analysing, interpreting, and presenting PROs in cancer clinical trials. This initiative, undertaken from 2021 to 2025, involved experts, including statisticians, PRO measurement experts, clinicians, and patient representatives from 41 organisations representing regulatory agencies, academia, the pharmaceutical industry, health-technology assessment bodies, and patient advocates. SISAQOL-IMI provides guidance on the implementation of PROs in randomised controlled trials and single-arm trials, terminology, definitions and the selection of PRO score interpretation thresholds, and for visualising PRO results for different audiences. To facilitate the implementation of these standards, in addition to this Policy Review, four key outputs are available: an interactive table, a guidebook, plain language materials, and a glossary.