Prospects and challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Patient-reported measures include preferences and reports about care received, health behaviors, and outcomes of care (patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life). These measures are a core aspect of health care, but there is much to be learned about how to use them to improve clinical practice.


METHODS
We specify linkages among different patient-reported measures and focus upon the prospects and challenges for use of patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice.


RESULTS
Patient-reported measures are important throughout the continuum of patient care. At the initial visit, patient-reported outcomes provide information about what is important to the patient, the patient's current behaviors, and the patient's baseline health-related quality of life. At subsequent visits, patient-reported outcomes help evaluate disease progression or regression as well as treatment effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient-reported measures can help clinicians target interventions that will improve patient outcomes of care. However, there are a number of challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice.
Fung
Constance H
CH
Zynx Health, Incorporated, 10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. cfung@ucla.edu
Hays
Ron D
RD
D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life