ePRO
In the past, the only way to administer questionnaires was to have them printed and filled in with a pen on paper.
However, with development of IT technologies over the past decades, the way questionnaires can be used has changed considerably. This means that nowadays patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures can be collected electronically, as the so-called ePRO measures – on computers, tablets or smartphones.
Moreover, the data can be sent over the Internet from any location, so the times when patients complete the questionnaire are not limited to their hospital visits.
The EORTC questionnaires are being used as ePRO in numerous commercial and academic studies.
In order to help users migrate our questionnaires in a consistent way, the EORTC Quality of Life Group has developed a guidance document.
As of 15 May 2021, the EORTC will introduce a new license for any Electronic Outcome Assessment (eCOA) provider or other entity (e.g. CRO or pharmaceutical company) adapting – or “migrating” – the EORTC Quality of Life Group questionnaires and modules into electronic versions (e-versions) and making these e-versions available for use in clinical trials or other studies. This license is subject to a royalty fee when the e-version(s) will be used in commercial trials or studies. When adapting the questionnaires into an in e-version for use in academic trials, the license will still be required, however no royalty fee will be charged.
There are two types of licenses:
- The “Study Solution” where a provider will adapt an EORTC questionnaire for a single study; or
- The “Library Solution” where a provider will create a “library” of e-versions of EORTC Quality of Life Group Questionnaire, available for use in clinical trials and studies.
For any further queries regarding these licensing solutions, their scope and fees, please contact EORTC at: qol.services@eortc.org