Abstract
Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) capture patients' perceptions of their healthcare experiences, but their use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care remains limited. Hodson et al. (2019) developed and validated the first COPD-specific PREM, the PREM-C9, in the UK. This study explores the feasibility and process of administering the PREM-C9 in the Canadian primary care context, focusing on the experiences of both patients and healthcare providers within the Best Care COPD (BCC) program in Ontario clinics. The tool was adapted for Canada by updating provider titles from "GP" to "primary care provider" and adding a 10th item to assess overall healthcare system experiences in the past year, leading to the renaming of the tool as PREM-C9+.
Using a qualitative approach, this research draws on data from focus groups and one-on-one interviews with patients and providers. The findings reveal the challenges and benefits of using the PREM-C9+ in clinical settings, highlighting both the patient experience of living with COPD and the provider experience of administering the tool. Key themes include the need for provider mediation in tool administration, as providers played a crucial role in facilitating patient understanding and engagement with the tool. Patients reported feeling empowered by the opportunity to provide insights into their care, while providers identified the potential for integrating the tool more efficiently into their workflow. Additionally, both patients and providers expressed a desire for adaptations to improve the tool's timing, frequency, and relevance to patient care, emphasizing the need for simplification and better alignment with health literacy levels.
This research underscores the value of incorporating both patient and provider perspectives to enhance the utility of PREMs in COPD care. By focusing on these qualitative findings, the study sheds light on how the PREM-C9+ can strengthen patient-provider relationships, promote patient-prioritized goals, and identify areas for improvement in COPD management programs. The results aim to support the broader adoption of PREMs in the Canadian healthcare system, improving the overall quality of care for chronic disease patients.