Table 1 Definitions of selected terms related to PROs
From: Patient-reported outcomes in meta-analyses – Part 1: assessing risk of bias and combining outcomes
Condition-specific Measure or Instrument | A category of health measures that describes problems such as low-back pain or particular interventions or treatments such as knee-replacement or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. |
Disease-Specific Measure or Instrument | A category of health measures of severity, symptoms, or functional limitations that are specific to a particular disease state, condition, or diagnostic grouping; for example, arthritis or diabetes. |
Domain (also known as dimension) | PROs often have domains or dimensions as subcategories. For instance, the SF-36, a very popular instrument, has 8 domains or dimensions. Examples of domains defined for the SF-36 include: physical role functioning, social role functioning, emotional role functioning, and mental health. An alternative, less satisfactory designation is “subscale”. |
Functional Status | An individual’s effective performance or ability to perform those roles, tasks, or activities that are valued, e.g. going to work, playing sports, or maintaining the house. Most often, functional status is divided into physical, emotional, mental, and social domains, although much finer distinctions are possible. Deviations from usual performance or ability indicate dysfunction. |
Generic Measure | A measure designed for use with any illness groups or population samples, as opposed to those intended for specific illness groups. |
Health-Related Quality of Life | Personal health status. It usually refers to aspects of our lives that are dominated or significantly influenced by our mental or physical well-being. |
Patient Satisfaction | A consequence of the use of healthcare products, services or programs that affect patients’ satisfaction with health or healthcare. |
Quality of life | An evaluation of all aspects of our lives, including, for example, where we live, how we live, and how we play. It encompasses such life factors as family circumstances, finances, housing and job satisfaction. |
Self-reported Symptoms | Symptoms, which are directly reported by the patient by means of questionnaires, diaries, hand held devices or web-based forms. |
Well-Being | Subjective bodily and emotional states; how an individual feels; a state of mind distinct from functioning that pertains to behaviours and activities. |