Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS]

Description

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a structured system designed to measure health outcomes as reported directly by patients. It provides tools for assessing dimensions such as quality of life, physical health, psychological health, and overall well-being from the patient’s perspective.

The underlying concept of PROMIS is that health assessment should not rely exclusively on clinical or laboratory indicators, but should also incorporate the patient’s own experience of health and functioning.

Purpose

The primary purpose of PROMIS is to provide reliable and valid data on patient-reported outcomes. These data can be used to evaluate a patient’s health status and to monitor progress during treatment.

The system can therefore support the assessment of changes in functioning, quality of life, and perceived health over time.

Structure of the System

PROMIS is not a single questionnaire. Instead, it includes a range of instruments and scales covering multiple aspects of health and well-being.

According to the source material, these areas include physical health, psychological health, social support, and social functioning.

This multidimensional structure allows researchers and clinicians to select the most appropriate measures according to the target population, research question, or clinical objective.

Scoring

PROMIS instruments use different response formats depending on the health domain being assessed. The source document states that Likert-type scales are commonly used, with responses often scored from 1 to 5.

Because PROMIS includes multiple instruments, the exact scoring and interpretation procedures depend on the specific measure being administered.

Applications

PROMIS may be used in clinical studies, healthcare settings, and research protocols focusing on the patient’s experience of health.

It is particularly relevant when assessing quality of life, physical functioning, mental health, or social functioning from the patient’s own perspective.

The system may also be used to monitor treatment progress and to identify changes that may not be fully captured through objective clinical indicators alone.

Importance of the System

The inclusion of patient-reported outcomes supports a more patient-centered approach to health assessment.

PROMIS provides a broad framework for the systematic measurement of these outcomes and can support both research evaluation and the monitoring of treatment-related changes over time.

References

Cella, D., et al. (2007). The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS): An overview. Quality of Life Research, 16(S1), 5–11.

Reeve, B. B., et al. (2007). The PROMIS Global Health Scale: Development and evaluation of a broad-spectrum quality-of-life instrument. Quality of Life Research, 16(7), 1395–1414.

Hays, R. D., & Spritzer, K. L. (2008). The PROMIS physical functioning measures: Evaluation of the short forms. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 61(1), 18–29.

Pilkonis, P. A., et al. (2011). PROMIS measures of mental health and related constructs. Psychological Assessment, 23(4), 557–567.

Cella, D., & Riley, W. D. (2010). The use of PROMIS in clinical practice and research: A review of recent advances. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28(5), 789–796.