8. Evaluate to optimise and sustain

Evaluating the implementation serves:

• Optimisation of the PRO workflow by checking whether implementation goals are met and adjustments are needed.
• Support of sustainability through ongoing quality assurance and improvement.

The evaluation can be structured as a 4–5 step cycle.

Practical notes

• Agree early: Define the evaluation process during planning.
• Appropriate timing: Evaluation may begin at any implementation stage, depending on objectives and measures. E.g., evaluate clinical benefit only after routine PRO completion and clinical implementation reach a sufficient coverage to detect meaningful differences
• Pilot evaluation methods: Test the evaluation methods on a small scale to assess their feasibility, e.g. methods for measuring completion rates
• Share results: Discuss the findings with relevant interesrholders (HCPs, decision-makers, patients) to enhance acceptability and encourage further optimisation.

Antunes, Harding, Higginson, & EUROIMPACT, 2014; E. Basch et al., 2012; Ethan Basch, Rogak, & Dueck, 2016; Nordhausen et al., 2022; Skivington et al., 2021; Snyder et al., 2012; Wintner et al., 2016; ISOQOL, 2015