Patient-reported outcome measurement in a rehabilitation setting

Minne Mendy, Lisanne Terrie, 2023
In healthcare, understanding what patients think and feel about their health and treatments is crucial. To capture this, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been developed. PROMs are questionnaires that patients fill out themselves asking about aspects such as pain level, ability to do everyday activities and overall quality of life. This feedback provides a clear picture of the patient’s health from their own perspective and helps to guide treatment plans to ensure effective care. In rehabilitation settings, where patients recover from injuries or illnesses, PROMs are particularly useful as they help to track patient recovery and tailor rehabilitation plan to individual needs. By regularly completing these questionnaires, both patients and healthcare providers can monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to improve outcomes. However, the use of these valuable tools in rehabilitation settings remain limited and thus this dissertation investigates why this is the case and how to improve the situation. The aim of this research was threefold: 1. Evaluate the quality of PROMs: By reviewing existing literature, the study assessed the quality of PROMs used in rehabilitation. 2. Agree on the best PROMs: Using a method called the Delphi study, experts discussed and agreed on the most suitable PROMs for rehabilitation. 3. Understand PROMs implementation: A case study was done to look at how PROMs are currently used and to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis). The findings of this dissertation showed that there are many PROMs out there, but only a few are used widely in a rehabilitation setting. Interestingly, only one PROM, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), received unanimous support from experts. The use of PROMs has significant societal value. When patients are involved in their care, they are more engaged and satisfied, leading to better health outcomes and more efficient healthcare systems. Understanding patient perspectives can also guide improvement in care services and policies. Policymakers should focus on improving PROM implementation, with clear guidelines to encourage their use. This could make rehabilitation services more patient-centred and effective. In summary, this master dissertation highlights the potential of PROMs in rehabilitation and calls for a standardized approach to include patients’ voices in their care, benefiting both individuals and society.

Promotor Kaat De Pourcq
Opleiding Management en Beleid van de Gezondheidszorg
Kernwoorden Patient-reported outcome measures rehabilitation Delphi-study Semi-structured interviews