Abstract
Purpose: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe and progressive disease that significantly affects patients' physical, emotional, and social well-being. Despite advances in medical therapies, managing PH remains challenging, and the need for practical, patient-centred tools to evaluate therapeutic outcomes is critical. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and proxy-reported outcome measures (proxy ROM) are pivotal in assessing the therapeutic impacts of interventions, including symptom relief, treatment efficacy, and quality of life. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of these tools in PH, hindering their optimal use in both clinical practice and research. This protocol outlines a systematic review to evaluate the psychometric properties of PROM and proxy ROM used in the therapeutic management of PH. The review will assess these tools' validity, reliability, and responsiveness according to the COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for selecting health Measurement Instruments) guideline. The goal is to provide evidence-based recommendations for selecting the most effective outcome measures to support therapeutic decision-making and improve patient care in PH. Methods: A systematic review will be conducted using the PICO framework to guide the selection of studies. A comprehensive search strategy will be executed across seven databases: PubMed, CINAHL Plus, The Cochrane Library, PEDro, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, with only manuscripts published in English. Studies eligible for inclusion will focus on PROM or proxy ROM used in PH populations and provide psychometric evaluation data. Studies that do not address PH or lack psychometric assessment will be excluded. Data extraction and quality appraisal will be performed by two independent reviewers using the COSMIN checklist, focusing on the methodological quality of the instruments. Results: The results are currently pending. Conclusions: This review will enhance the therapeutic management of PH by evaluating the psychometric properties of PROM and proxy ROM, ultimately guiding their use in clinical settings. By identifying reliable and valid measures, this review aims to improve the effectiveness of patient-centred management and optimise therapeutic outcomes for individuals living with PH.
Acknowledgements
This systematic review is part of an initiative led by Pulmonary Hypertension Singapore to enhance the understanding and application of patient- and proxy-reported outcome measures in clinical and research settings. The findings aim to advance patient-centred care for individuals with pulmonary hypertension by supporting the selection and implementation of high-quality tools for outcome assessment.
Recommended Citation
Yeung MT, Chan MY. Patient- and Proxy-Reported Outcome Measures for use in Pulmonary Hypertension: Study Protocol for a COSMIN-Based Systematic Review. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2025 Oct 15;23(4), Article 24.
