Patient‐Reported Outcomes (PROM, PROMIS)

Abstract

This entry provides an introduction to patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) and their significance. Different types of patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are introduced, such as generic and specific PROMs, as well as the progression, evaluation, and future directions for their use. Even though there are various challenges with the implementation and use of PROMs (such as patients' motivation to complete a PROM and the shift from a disease/problem‐oriented approach in the healthcare conversations to an outcome/goal‐based approach), they can be overcome. PROMs are well established in their use for screening, monitoring, and improving communication at the individual (micro) level, and to aid in decision making, monitoring populations, and assessing quality at the aggregated (meso) level.