Outcomes Measurement in Global Hand Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Global Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Musculoskeletal trauma presents a significant global health challenge.
• Access to safe, high-quality surgical care remains limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Existing initiatives to address surgical shortages in LMICs require further development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in improving surgical care in LMICs.
• To explore the potential of PROMs in advancing hand surgery research and practice globally.
• To advocate for the contextual adaptation and implementation of PROMs in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on surgical care initiatives in LMICs.
• Analysis of the role of clinical research and PROMs in high-income countries (HICs).
• Discussion of the application and benefits of PROMs in LMIC settings.

Main Results:

• PROMs offer a patient-centered approach to assess symptoms and well-being.
• PROMs can enhance understanding of patient conditions, treatment outcomes, and cost-effectiveness in LMICs.
• Contextually appropriate PROMs can improve routine follow-up and guide capacity building.

Conclusions:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential for advancing hand surgery in LMICs.
• The strategic implementation of PROMs can significantly improve surgical care delivery and research.
• Further development and application of PROMs are crucial for global hand surgery advancement.