title: Prospects and challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice.
abstract: 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.
authors: Zynx Health, Incorporated, 10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. cfung@ucla.edu
authors: Constance H
authors: CH
authors: Fung
authors: Ron D
authors: RD
authors: Hays
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life