PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES (PROMS): IN-DEPTH VIEW OF TWO EXPERTS
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https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1050-9313
Nadia Fanous
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4752-7910
Mohammad Al-Bsheish
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2698-8101
Abstract
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is a comprehensive transformation of the healthcare sector aimed at establishing a more efficient, accessible, and high-quality healthcare system, fundamentally driven by a patient-centric approach. Despite growing recognition of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), there remains a limited understanding of the specific opportunities and barriers encountered during their implementation within Saudi Arabia, particularly from the perspective of key stakeholders. This qualitative study aims to gather the perspectives of expert stakeholders regarding Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), as well as the opportunities and barriers related to their implementation in Saudi Arabia. This research adopts an exploratory framework. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with pioneering experts actively involved in PROMs implementation within the country. Sample size was justified on the principle of “information power,” given the high specificity of participants’ backgrounds and the study's narrow exploratory aim. Data were collected through semi-structured interview guides, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis. The study also includes a dedicated methodological reflection section that addresses epistemological assumptions, researcher reflexivity, and the transferability of the adopted design to other qualitative research contexts. Findings reveal that PROMs empower patients and are associated with improved health outcomes; the optimal data-collection setting was identified as the waiting room, which maximizes response rates. Nevertheless, physician resistance rooted in concerns about the subjectivity of patient-reported pain remains a salient challenge. The study underscores the need for systemic, cultural, and practical adaptation strategies to optimize the effectiveness of PROMs in Saudi clinical practice. As a preliminary qualitative exploration based on two expert interviews, findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than generalizable; future research engaging a broader range of stakeholders is warranted.
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