PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) is an NIH-funded initiative established in 2004 to develop and validate highly reliable, precise measures of patient-reported health status (PROs) for physical, mental, and social well-being. The system is designed to transform how health domains are measured by offering greater precision and requiring fewer items (typically 4-12) than conventional measures, thereby decreasing respondent burden.
Measures and Access: PROMIS measures are generic, not disease-specific, and can be used across the general population and with individuals living with chronic conditions. The measures are available in multiple formats, including:
- Short Forms & Scales: Fixed sets of items, available as respondent-ready PDFs for free paper administration.
- Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs): Items are dynamically selected from an item bank based on previous answers, providing high precision with fewer questions.
Key Features & Technology:
- Standardized Scoring: All measures are scored on a standardized T-score metric (Mean=50, SD=10), allowing for meaningful comparisons of outcomes across different conditions, populations, research studies, and clinical practices.
- API Integration: The Assessment Center API is available for licensing to integrate PROMIS CATs and forms into existing digital administration platforms like patient portals, survey systems, and mobile apps.
- Data Security: The API can be installed on the user's desired server, allowing data to remain behind their firewall.
- Score Linking: The PROsetta Stone project provides mathematical links to translate scores from many conventional PRO measures (e.g., SF-36, PHQ-9) to the PROMIS metric.
Target Users & Use Cases: PROMIS measures are used by healthcare providers, clinicians, and researchers. Primary use cases include routine outcome measurement in clinical practice, comparative effectiveness research, quality improvement initiatives, and multi-center clinical trials.