An extensive review was carried out on all validated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) instruments in the dermatologic surgery field. The goal was to develop an organizational framework representing PRO measures and instruments using a qualitative analysis. This process involved searching through various databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane to find validated PRO instruments for dermatologic surgery.
PROs are crucial measures of a patient’s experience throughout the medical care process. Despite the existence of various PRO instruments, choosing the suitable one can be challenging due to the lack of an organizational framework. This framework would ideally describe all measurable PROs in dermatologic surgery and illustrate which instruments measure which outcomes.
The constant comparative method of qualitative analysis was employed to create the organizational framework. All identified instruments were sorted into this framework. The search process resulted in the identification of 3195 articles, from which 35 validated instruments were extracted and qualitatively analyzed.
Streamlining Patient-Reported Outcomes Research in Dermatologic Surgery
The organizational framework sorted all instruments into 36 PRO measures. These measures align with the National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. The measures were further categorized into four groups: expectations, satisfaction, quality of life, and needs. These categories provide a comprehensive understanding of how patients experience these outcomes and offer researchers lenses through which they can evaluate them.
In conclusion, a proposed organizational framework has been developed to assist in the selection of validated instruments for developing and answering PRO research questions in dermatologic surgery. This framework presents a significant step towards improving patient care and enhancing research in the field.
Original Article DOI: 10.1007/s00403-023-02738-8
Original title: An organizational framework for patient-reported outcome instruments in dermatologic surgery: a systematic review and qualitative analysis
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