Mark Clemons

Putting Patients First: Pragmatic Trials in Gynecologic Oncology

In November 2024, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada hosted a 2-day, interdisciplinary Pragmatic Clinical Trials (PCTs) Workshop with the goal of launching an initiative to develop and promote PCTs within the Canadian gynecologic oncology research environment. The programme brought together multiple stakeholders, including patients with ovarian cancer, patient advocates, experts in PCTs, gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists and clinical fellows. Foundational elements of pragmatism were emphasized in the context of the primary goal of PCTs, showing the real-world effectiveness of interventions in broad patient groups. Examples of how PCT outcomes can inform and influence clinical decision making and health policy were presented in the context of those outcomes that matter most to patients with cancer. The patients and patient advocates had the essential role of helping clinical investigators co-design PCT protocols to answer common, important, and practical questions that focus on outcomes that matter to patients. These endpoints included overall survival, quality of life and promotion of informed patient decision making. Tangible workshop outcomes included the development of several new proposals for PCTs inspirited and directed by the patient voice. Further educational initiatives to engage clinical gynecologic oncology investigators at all stages in their career are being planned.