Questionnaires designed to elicit information from patients about their health and quality of life are now common in the NHS. Simon Palfreyman assesses the benefits of such data collection

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used in the NHS to inform clinical treatments and even the funding of individual healthcare providers. This article examines the background to their increasing use. It aims to provide nurses with information and advice about resources to increase their knowledge of PROMs. It outlines the importance of patient-centred outcomes, describes the different types of PROMs and their use in clinical practice.