A Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) is a tool or questionnaire designed to capture information directly from patients about their health, symptoms, functioning, and well-being. PROMs are valuable in healthcare and clinical research because they provide insights into the patient's perspective, allowing healthcare professionals and researchers to assess the impact of a medical condition or treatment from the patient's point of view.
Key characteristics of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures include:
Subjective Nature: PROMs collect subjective information directly from patients, reflecting their personal experiences, feelings, and perceptions related to their health status.
Multidimensional: PROMs often cover multiple dimensions of health, including physical, emotional, social, and functional aspects. This multidimensional approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the patient's well-being.
Standardized Instruments: PROMs are typically structured and standardized, meaning that they use predefined questions and response options to ensure consistency in data collection. This allows for comparisons across different patient populations and over time.
Questionnaire Format: PROMs are commonly presented in the form of questionnaires or surveys. Patients respond to questions related to their health, symptoms, and quality of life.
Baseline and Follow-up Assessments: PROMs can be used for baseline assessments to establish a starting point for evaluating a patient's condition. They are also valuable for follow-up assessments to track changes over time or in response to specific interventions.
Disease-Specific or Generic: PROMs can be designed to assess the impact of a specific disease or condition (disease-specific PROMs) or to measure general health and well-being (generic PROMs).
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research: PROMs support patient-centered outcomes research by incorporating the patient's voice into clinical trials, healthcare evaluations, and treatment decisions.
Outcome Assessment in Clinical Trials: PROMs are often used in clinical trials to assess treatment effectiveness and the overall impact of interventions on patients' lives. They contribute valuable data to complement clinical and objective measures.
Quality of Life Measures: Some PROMs focus specifically on aspects of quality of life, addressing factors such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, social relationships, and overall life satisfaction.
Examples of common PROMs include:
SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey): A generic questionnaire assessing health-related quality of life across various dimensions.
EQ-5D (EuroQol-5 Dimensions): A generic measure of health status that includes dimensions such as mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.
PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System): A set of measures covering various domains of health, including physical, mental, and social well-being.
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI): A disease-specific measure for assessing disability in individuals with lower back pain.
The use of PROMs contributes to a more holistic and patient-centered approach to healthcare, enabling healthcare providers to better understand the impact of illnesses and treatments on patients' lives