Exploring patients' experience using PROMs within routine post-discharge follow-up assessment after stroke: a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) are being used increasingly to measure health problems in stroke clinical practice. However, the implementation of these PROMs in routine stroke care is still in its infancy. To understand the value of PROMs used in ischemic stroke care, we explored the patients' experience with PROMs and with the consultation at routine post-discharge follow-up after stroke. METHODS: In this prospective mixed methods study, patients with ischemic stroke completed an evaluation questionnaire about the use of PROMs and about their consultation in two Dutch hospitals. Additionally, telephone interviews were held to gain in-depth information about their experience with PROMs. RESULTS: In total, 63 patients completed the evaluation questionnaire of which 10 patients were also interviewed. Most patients (82.2-96.6%) found completing the PROMs to be feasible and relevant. Half the patients (49.2-51.6%) considered the PROMs useful for the consultation and most patients (87.3-96.8%) reported the consultation as a positive experience. Completing the PROMs provided 51.6% of the patients with insight into their stroke-related problems. Almost 75% of the patients found the PROMs useful in giving the healthcare provider greater insight, and 60% reported discussing the PROM results during the consultation. Interviewed patients reported the added value of PROMs, particularly when arranging further care, in gaining a broader insight into the problems, and in ensuring all important topics were discussed during the consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Completing PROMs appears to be feasible for patients with stroke attending post-discharge consultation; the vast majority of patients experienced added value for themselves or the healthcare provider. We recommend that healthcare providers discuss the PROM results with their patients to improve the value of PROMs for the patient. This could also improve the willingness to complete PROMs in the future.

Identifying prognostic factors to determine the level of recovery in servicemembers with chronic low back pain: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to identify general and military-related factors that are associated with the level of recovery in Dutch service members with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who followed a rehabilitation program. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred five consecutive service members with CLBP were included in this study. The level of disability, was used to distinguish a recovered and non-recovered group. Level of pain and self-perceived recovery were used as secondary outcome measurements. Differences were evaluated within and between the groups using the Student's t-test Bivariate logistic regression analyses were used for identifying the prognostic factors related to various outcomes of recoveryRESULTS: After following the rehabilitation program, 64.8% of the service members recovered from CLBP. The recovered group, demonstrated significant effect sizes in disability and in pain The non-recovered group showed on disability a non-significant effect and in pain a significant effect. The self-perceived recovery in the recovered group was "much improved" and the non-recovered group "slightly improved". The results of the bivariate regression analyses showed no significant independent prognostic factors related to recovery. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, no significant independent prognostic factors could be identified that were associated to the various outcomes of recovery in service members with CLBP who followed a rehabilitation program.