QR-PSF funding to develop HealthScout for PROMs research

Excited to start work today on a new project linking with Nottingham University Hospital policymakers on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS), thanks to funding awarded to me from the QR Policy Support Fund through the University of Nottingham Institute for Policy and Engagement.

We aim to adapt the HealthScout app in order to understand treatment outcomes in patients referred with musculoskeletal complaints by implementing an electronic PROMs data collection system.

Current evidence to decide the best treatment for painful musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis is poor and uses study designs lacking clinical relevance. Understanding the treatment pathway is key for patient groups. Patient-Reported Outcome/ExperienceMeasures (PROM/PREMs) measure health gain in patients undergoing joint replacement and other common surgery based on responses to questionnaires before and after surgery.

PROM/PREMs provide important indicators of clinical efficacy not captured by clinical assessment or objective markers. They can help monitor response to treatment, for example, the efficacy of analgesia, if collected in real-time.

Facilitating routine PROM/PREMs reporting improves communication between patient and care provider, increasing patient satisfaction and retention, whilst allowing outcomes in populations under-represented in clinical trials to be investigated.

Working in partnership with local policymakers, this app will enable us to follow the trajectories of pain and improvement in chronic musculoskeletal conditions, whilst understanding effectiveness of musculoskeletal diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

In consultation with patient and public involvement (PPI) advisors and care providers we aim to develop a PROM/PREM data collection system collection in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. We will create a dedicated e-PROM/PREM database using established data services (RedCap Cloud) and adapt theHealthScout app, co-developed by UoN Mobile App Development Team, alongside developing links between the e-PROM platform.

Once established, the collection systemwill enable us to undertake a feasibility study into using the dedicated app for collecting real-time e-PROM/PREMs in conjunction with Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) services.