title: Feasibility and value of PatientViewpoint: a web system for patient-reported outcomes assessment in clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The PatientViewpoint website collects patient-reported outcomes and links them with the electronic health record to aid patient management. This pilot test evaluated PatientViewpoint's use, usefulness, and acceptability to patients and clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-arm prospective study that enrolled breast and prostate cancer patients undergoing treatment and the clinicians who managed them. Patients completed patient-reported outcomes every 2 weeks, and clinicians could access the results for patient visits. Scores that were poor relative to norms or substantially worse than the previous assessment were highlighted. After three on-study visits, we assessed patient and clinician perspectives on PatientViewpoint using close-ended and open-ended questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven out of 12 eligible clinicians (92%) and 52/76 eligible patients (68%) enrolled. Patients completed a median of 71% of assigned questionnaires; clinicians reported using the information for 79% of patients, most commonly as a source of additional information (51%). At the median, score reports identified three potential issues, of which 1 was discussed during the visit. Patients reported the system was easy to use (92%), useful (70%), aided recall of symptoms/side effects (72%), helped them feel more in control of their care (60%), improved discussions with their provider (49%), and improved care quality (39%). Patients and clinicians desired more information on score interpretation and minor adjustments to site navigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the feasibility and value of PatientViewpoint. An ongoing study is using a continuous quality improvement approach to further refine PatientViewpoint. Future studies will evaluate its impact on patient care and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205–1901, USA. csnyder@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Claire F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Blackford
authors.forename: Antonio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carducci
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Albert W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires