7. Interpretation of Patient-Reported Outcome data

Summary

  • Interpretation approaches are helpful for HCPs to understand the possible meaning of PROM scores.
  • Interpreting PRO data in routine clinical care requires judging clinical relevance and contextualising scores within the patient’s individual situation and health status. Any assumptions based on the scores should be checked and validated through targeted discussion with the patient
  • For EORTC PROMs, thresholds for clinical importance (TCIs), reference values and norm data and PRO score interpretation thresholds (PROSITs) have been developed.
  • TCIs help quickly identify symptom/functioning areas that warrant further attention. 
  • Reference values and normative data can be used to compare a patient’s scores with those of similar patient groups or the general population.
  • PROSITs can support identification of deterioration or improvement over time if multiple assessment points (monitoring) are available.