Patient reported outcome measures in neurogenic bladder.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Quality of Life Research
• Medical Measurement

Background:

• Neurogenic bladder interventions aim to enhance patient quality of life (QOL).
• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are vital for quantifying subjective symptoms and evaluating QOL.
• Objective measures alone cannot fully capture the impact of neurogenic bladder on patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review general principles of measurement for PROMs.
• To identify and discuss PROMs relevant to neurogenic bladder patients.
• To inform clinicians and researchers on selecting appropriate PROMs for neurogenic bladder assessment.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search, updating two recent reviews with Medline search up to September 1, 2015.
• Identified PROMs used for assessing QOL and symptoms in neurogenic bladder patients.
• Categorized PROMs into those specific to neurogenic bladder, general QOL measures for related conditions, and general incontinence PROMs.

Main Results:

• Identified 16 PROMs for neurogenic bladder patients.
• Highlighted specific tools: Qualiveen for QOL and Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS) for symptoms.
• Noted the use of general QOL measures (e.g., for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury) and incontinence PROMs.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians and researchers must be aware of available PROMs for neurogenic bladder.
• Understanding measurement principles is essential for selecting the most suitable PROM.
• Appropriate PROM selection enhances the evaluation of neurogenic bladder patient outcomes and QOL.