Developing a protocol for adapting multimedia patient-reported outcomes measures for low literacy patients

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) are crucial for patient-centered care and healthcare quality assessment.
• Low patient literacy presents a significant challenge for self-administering PROMs, potentially widening health disparities.
• There is a need for inclusive PROM implementation strategies to ensure equitable data capture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a protocol for adapting text-based PROMs into a multimedia format (mPROMs).
• To optimize PROM self-administration for individuals with limited literacy.
• To promote health equity in patient-reported outcomes measurement.

Main Methods:

• Developed a Multimedia Adaptation Protocol (MAP) based on the IQOLA protocol, incorporating human-centered design and community-engaged research.
• The MAP involves four stages: forward adaptation, backward adaptation, qualitative evaluation, and validation.
• Utilized a mixed-methods approach including interviews, workshops, prototyping, user testing, and psychometric testing for iterative design.

Main Results:

• The MAP offers a structured approach for creating mPROMs.
• Pilot testing and execution of the MAP will adapt a specific PROMIS measure for a mixed-literacy population.
• The study protocol is designed for adaptation and evaluation by other researchers.

Conclusions:

• Multimedia adaptation of PROMs (mPROMs) can enhance data capture in populations with limited literacy.
• The MAP facilitates the development of inclusive PROMs, addressing a critical gap in health research.
• Wider adoption of mPROMs has the potential to reduce health disparities and promote equitable healthcare measurement.