Implementing paediatric patient-reported outcome measures in outpatient asthma clinics: a feasibility assessment study

OBJECTIVE: Implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is limited in paediatric routine clinical care. The KidsPRO programme has been codesigned to facilitate the implementation of PROMs in paediatric healthcare settings. Therefore, this study (1) describes the development of innovative KidsPRO programme and (2) reports on the feasibility of implementing PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) PROM in asthma clinics using the KidsPRO programme. DESIGN: Feasibility assessment study. SETTING: Outpatient paediatric asthma clinics in the city of Calgary, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Five paediatric patients, four family caregivers and three healthcare providers were recruited to pilot the implementation of PedsQL PROM using KidsPRO. Then, a survey was used to assess its feasibility among these study participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants’ understanding of using PROMs, the adequacy of support provided to them, the utility of using PROMs as part of their appointment, and their satisfaction with using PROMs. ANALYSES: The quantitative data generated through closed-ended questions was analysed and represented in the form of bar charts for each category of study participants (ie, patients, their family caregivers and healthcare providers). The qualitative data generated through the open-ended questions were content analysed and categorised into themes. RESULTS: The experience of using PROMs was overwhelmingly positive among patients and their family caregivers, results were mixed among healthcare providers. Qualitative data collected through open-ended questions also complemented the quantitative findings. CONCLUSION: The evidence from this study reveals that the implementation of PROMs in routine paediatric clinical care asthma clinics in Alberta is seems to be feasible.