How to use patient-reported outcome measures with other clinical measurements in clinical reports

Abstract

How to use patient-reported outcome measures with other clinical measurements in clinical reports Clinical outcomes in hand surgery can be measured and reported in many ways, including those performed under controlled conditions by clinicians, such as grip strength or finger joint angles, and assessments of function that involve completing specific simulated daily tasks. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are another group of outcome measures that are defined as reports obtained directly from the patient and typically involve questionnaires. PROMs can assess hand function, health status, and patient satisfaction. The use of PROMs is rising in scientific articles in hand surgery. However, PROMs are not necessarily a panacea. Here, we will aim to rationalize the choice of outcome measures using our current understanding of PROMs in hand surgery.

The evidence-base for the management of flexor tendon injuries of the hand: Review

“…Furthermore, the evidence-base comparing the various PROMs against each other and against flexor tendon zones is lacking. Rodrigues et al, 2018 suggested PROMs should be used in conjunction with other clinical measurements and this is a step in the right direction [75]. Future efforts ought to focus on developing and clinically appraising robust and sensitive tools to evaluate hand conditions post-FTR surgery.…”

Different terminologies that help the interpretation of outcomes

“…Guidance exists for choosing relevant differences for trials (Cook et al., 2018), and estimates for some hand surgery outcome measures have been discussed (Rodrigues et al., 2015). Proper use of PROMs with other clinical measurements in study design and reports was discussed in an earlier article (Rodrigues and Neblett, 2018).…”

Understanding the patient profile and health-related quality of life in patients presenting for hand surgery

“…PROMs have become increasingly used in the assessment of health conditions and are now the most accepted measure for health and treatment evaluation in the UK. There are various PROMs: the most commonly used are generic measures of health, including the Euro-Qol 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) (Rodrigues and Neblett, 2018). Also popular are site-specific or condition-specific PROMs.…”