ABSTRACT
IntroductionA patient/person-reported outcome measure (PROM) is a questionnaire that measures patient's health self-assessment (PROs), such as pain/wellbeing. HTx is a Horizon 2020 project supported by the European Union lasting for 5 years from January 2019. The main aim of HTx is to create a framework for the Next Generation Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to support patient-centred, societally oriented, real-time decision-making on access to and reimbursement for health technologies (HTs) throughout Europe. Individual values, needs, and preferences should be taken into account when appraising HTs and in clinical decision-making. Better guidance is needed about how to develop and select generic and/or more specific outcome measures that are relevant to patients and fit-for-purpose. Our goal is to provide that guidance via the PROM toolbox and enable users to select PROMs by using this. The HTx project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 825162.MethodsA framework for the assessment of PROMs was discussed with experts, tested for a subset of PROMs (Linnean menu) and resulted in the PROM-cycle. Multiple literature studies were performed on PROMs, their properties, and characteristics. The general population was studied as well as cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, myelodysplastic syndrome, and (long-lasting) COVID-19. This resulted in an Excel database (PROM-overview) made available via a user-friendly web-application helping users to select PROMs: the PROM select app via https://www.prom-select.eu/proms.ResultsMultiple tools were developed and are available in the PROM toolbox starting with the PROM-guide, Literature review on the use of PROMs, PROM-cycle accompanied by the Linnean menu. In addition, PROM-links, The making of the PROM-overview & PROM-select app, PROM-overview, PROM-select app, its usability test report and PROM toolbox presentation can be found on https://www.zorginzicht.nl/ondersteuning/prom-toolbox-summary-in-english#what-is-the-prom-cycle.ConclusionsThe PROM toolbox guides users and helps them to select PROMs and trustworthy information and finding relevant scientific articles.