Patient-reported outcome measures for medication-related quality of life: A scoping review

Medication use is common for the prevention and treatment of many health conditions. Understanding the impact of medication-taking on quality of life is important, as it could contribute to better care plans and improve shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.

To systematically identify and summarize the extent of literature on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for medication-related quality of life (QoL).

Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Health and Psychosocial Instruments databases were searched until May 17, 2021 for peer-reviewed, original research articles that included a PROM for medication-related QoL and reported its psychometric properties. Study selection were completed by pairs with a third reviewer resolving any conflicts. Data were extracted by the study team using a form in Microsoft Excel. Extracted data were summarized descriptively and tabulated numerically.

We screened 8,878 records, including 170 full-text articles, of which 86 met the criteria for inclusion. We identified 80 unique PROMs. Over half (n = 53) described measuring treatment satisfaction and less than one quarter measured medication related-QoL more broadly. Most of the included PROMs were targeted towards populations with specific health conditions including cancer (n = 9) and diabetes (n = 8), as well as individuals taking medication for non-specific conditions (n = 7). The most reported psychometric properties were internal consistency (n = 75) and construct validity (n = 77). All PROMs but one (n = 79) assessed physical health but fewer assessed other QoL dimensions (e.g., autonomy, interactions with providers).

We found that the PROMs were designed for condition-specific or medication-specific populations, with few for general medication-related QoL. Future research should focus on assessing medication-related QoL measures for broader populations such as those with disabilities, multimorbidity, or experiencing polypharmacy. There needs to be more guidance on how to implement the use of PROMs in clinical settings, as well as to ensure consistency around terminology related to QoL.