CHAVI PROM: Updated Version of an Open-Source Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement System

Purpose: We describe the development and the new features available in an open-source electronic system to record patient-reported outcomes (PRO). Methods After a careful review of the existing software featureset and the requirements, we developed a new application from scratch using the Django Framework. This application can be hosted on any standard web server in a hospital and allows patients and providers to use electronic PROs in routine clinical practice as well as research setting.Results: The CHAVI PROM application uses a database model which follows the way PRO questionnaires are designed. Unlike the previous application, where questionnaires were defined first, the CHAVI PROM application starts with the specification of the constructs. Each construct can have multiple items, and each item can be a part of various questionnaires. This allows the application to build up an item bank. Complex equations can be used to calculate the scores for the constructs as the patients respond to questionnaires. A new patient portal and a dedicated PRO review page have been developed. These display the responses provided by the user along with a highly flexible and longitudinal overview of the patients’ responses over time. A unique system for displaying aggregated responses is also made available in addition to textual summaries of why a change is considered as a deterioration. Conclusion: This open-source application will encourage the adoption of routine assessment of PROM in diverse healthcare systems.