Developing PRISM: A Pragmatic Institutional Survey and Bench Marking Tool to Measure Digital Research Maturity of Cancer Centers

Abstract

Abstract Background Multicenter precision oncology real-world evidence requires a substantial long-term investment by hospitals to prepare their data and align on common Clinical Research processes and medical definitions. Our team has developed a self-assessment framework to support hospitals and hospital networks to measure their digital maturity and better plan and coordinate those investments. From that framework, we developed PRISM for Cancer Outcomes: PRagmatic Institutional Survey and benchMarking. Objectives The primary objective was to develop PRISM as a tool for self-assessment of digital maturity in oncology hospitals and research networks; a secondary objective was to create an initial benchmarking cohort of >25 hospitals using the tool as input for future development. Methods PRISM is a 25-question semiquantitative self-assessment survey developed iteratively from expert knowledge in oncology real-world study delivery. It covers four digital maturity dimensions: (1) Precision oncology, (2) Clinical digital data, (3) Routine outcomes, and (4) Information governance and delivery. These reflect the four main data types and critical enablers for precision oncology research from routine electronic health records. Results During piloting with 26 hospitals from 19 European countries, PRISM was found to be easy to use and its semiquantitative questions to be understood in a wide diversity of hospitals. Results within the initial benchmarking cohort aligned well with internal perspectives. We found statistically significant differences in digital maturity, with Precision oncology being the most mature dimension, and Information governance and delivery the least mature. Conclusion PRISM is a light footprint benchmarking tool to support the planning of large-scale real-world research networks. It can be used to (i) help an individual hospital identify areas most in need of investment and improvement, (ii) help a network of hospitals identify sources of best practice and expertise, and (iii) help research networks plan research. With further testing, policymakers could use PRISM to better plan digital investments around the Cancer Mission and European Digital Health Space.