What Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) Are
Patient–Reported Outcomes (PROs) is the term used to denote health data that
is provided by the patient through a system of reporting. A patient–reported outcome
is basically a patient's feedback on their feelings or what they are able to do
as they are dealing with chronic diseases or conditions. PROs can also be measured
when patients are undergoing treatment or are participating in a clinical trial.
PROMIS® PROs cover three areas, or domains: physical, mental, and
social health. Examples include physical abilities, fatigue, pain, depression, sexual
function, and satisfaction with social participation (or interactions). Tools (questionnaires)
can be designed to measure PROs in any disease or medical condition or they can
be designed to measure certain PROs that are of specific importance to one disease,
such as the importance of fatigue to cancer.
PRO data are especially important to evaluating the effectiveness of health care
for conditions which have no cure, as the goal of treatment therapy is to improve
patients’ abilities to function and to reduce symptoms associated with the condition.
PROMIS is being developed specifically for use in research on chronic health conditions.
PROMIS® is unique from other PRO systems in four ways:
- PROMIS® data is comparable because there common measurements across
domains
- PROMIS® measures are reliable and valid. They have been gone through
rounds of rigorous review and testing with people to ensure that the measurements
are precise, consistent, and accurate.
- PROMIS® is flexible: PRO tools or measures refer to the range of
ways PROs can be measured: such as in–person interviews, written questionnaires
or computer–assisted tools.
- PROMIS® is inclusive in that all people regardless of literacy, language,
physical function and life course* can use its tools
*PROMIS® has tools for children to use starting from age 8 and up.