The association between patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and patient participation in chronic care: A scoping review

Abstract

Objectives: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly applied in chronic care due to their many functionalities and synergies with current healthcare policies. The participatory potential of PROs is especially emphasised in the Danish context. This review scrutinises the association between PRO and patient participation in chronic care.

Methods: This scoping review adheres to PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and the synthesis is based on narrative and thematic analyses.

Results: Eighty-four articles were deemed eligible. The association between PRO and patient participation regards seven themes: PRO development, response rates and patient burden, patient empowerment and self-management, display and quality of data, patient-clinician communication, shared decision-making, and organisational and attitudinal aspects. Lack of knowledge, actor attitudes, organisational setup, and technological infrastructure act as the main barriers.

Conclusion: The connection between PROs and patient participation is dialectic and unfolds in three phases-before, during, and after patient-clinician consultation. Knowledge regarding the last phase is particularly scarce. Henceforth, studies should address how to include a broader segment of patients, PROs participatory effects over time and PROs impact on patients' everyday lives.

Practice implications: The review provides knowledge concerning the association between PROs and patient participation to enhance future chronic care, research, and discussions in the area.

Keywords: Chronic care; Patient participation Patient empowerment; Patient-reported outcome (PRO).