Using co-production to implement patient reported outcome measures in third sector organisations: a mixed methods...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Third Sector Management
• Outcomes Measurement

Background:

• Third sector organisations utilize Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to demonstrate impact for funding.
• Implementation of PROMs presents significant challenges for these organisations.
• Evidence-informed implementation strategies have not been previously evaluated in the third sector context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-informed implementation approach for PROMs in third sector organisations.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to PROM implementation within charities and community groups.

Main Methods:

• A Community-Based Participatory Research approach was employed.
• University researchers supported two third sector organisations in implementing PROMs.
• A mixed-methods evaluation included interviews, focus groups, and analysis of PROMs data (n=313).

Main Results:

• Organisations faced constraints despite staff involvement in measure selection.
• Competing priorities, workload, and staff opinions posed implementation challenges.
• Developing an outcomes-based culture and sustained effort over years were crucial but difficult.

Conclusions:

• Third sector organisations encounter substantial practical and ideological challenges implementing PROMs, despite funding incentives.
• The complexity of PROM implementation may lead stakeholders to consider alternative impact measurement methods.
• Further research into feasible impact measurement for the third sector is warranted.