The role of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the improvement of healthcare delivery and service

The delivery of high-quality patient-centred healthcare requires the input and active involvement of patients. The collection and use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the routine clinical practice could enhance the quality of healthcare. Patients may use aggregate PRO data to guide their healthcare choices; health authorities may use such data to assess and compare the performance of hospitals or healthcare providers and inform decisions on commissioning and reimbursement of healthcare services, while disease registries may collect PROs alongside clinical parameters. Patient-level PRO data may improve the processes of care by facilitating patient-clinician communication and shared decision-making. Patient-level data could also enhance outcomes of care by complementing traditional clinician-observed outcomes in the clinical management of individual patients in routine practice. There are several practical, methodological, and attitudinal barriers that need to be addressed and an integrated approach taken to ensure that the use of PROs in routine clinical practice improves the quality of healthcare.