Patient-Reported Outcomes in Onychomycosis: A Review of Psychometrically Evaluated Instruments in Assessing Treatment Effectiveness
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Author Spotlight: Self-Assessment Protocol for Predicting Psoriatic Arthritis in Psoriasis Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Jenny Wang1, Lauren E Wiznia2, Evan A Rieder2
1New York University School of Medicine.
Purpose:
Onychomycosis is the most common nail disorder and causes morbidity and impaired quality of life (QOL). Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are patients' assessment of their health status or treatment response. PROs help assess what is most bothersome to patients to identify targets for intervention. We sought to review the PRO instruments currently used to assess QOL and treatment response in onychomycosis patients.
Procedures:
A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases through December 31, 2016, to identify all English language literature on onychomycosis, PRO, and QOL.
Results:
Currently, 5 validated PRO instruments exist specifically for onychomycosis. Oral therapies were most extensively studied using PRO instruments. QOL data generally correlated with clinical change, although patients sometimes reported improvement without any clinically significant nail clearance. The only psychometrically validated PRO instrument used to evaluate treatment response is the OnyCOE-t™.
Conclusions:
Clinicians may underestimate the impact of onychomycosis on patients. With recent initiatives from health-care management organizations to improve patient experience and the recent approval of expensive and nonsuperior topical antifungal medications, PROs will be increasingly important in onychomycosis to assess patient priorities and optimize treatment. Future research should evaluate these instruments in special populations and fingernail disease.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Nursing Evaluation
Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...

