Patient-reported outcome measures ( PROMs): making sense of individual PROM scores and changes in PROM scores over time

Abstract

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used in nephrology care. However, in contrast to well-known clinical measures such as blood pressure, health-care professionals are less familiar with PROMs and the interpretation of PROM scores is therefore perceived as challenging. In this paper, we provide insight into the interpretation of PROM scores by introducing the different types and characteristics of PROMs, and the most relevant concepts for the interpretation of PROM scores. Concepts such as minimal detectable change, minimal important change and response shift are explained and illustrated with examples from nephrology care.

Keywords: data interpretations; minimal clinically important difference; patient-reported outcome measures; psychometrics; quality of life.