Choice of Recall Period for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Criteria for Consideration
September 2011
in “
Quality of Life Research
”
TLDR Choosing the right recall period for patient feedback is important for accurate data and depends on the disease, symptom changes, and patient impact.
The document from 2011 examines the significance of selecting a suitable recall period for patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in clinical trials, which is crucial for the accuracy and reliability of data regarding patients' symptoms and treatment effects. The optimal recall period is influenced by the specific disease or condition, the variability of symptoms, and the impact on the patient's life. The paper suggests that while shorter recall periods may lead to patient overburden and potentially miss the true symptom burden, longer periods could result in imprecise data that either overestimates or underestimates the health state. The conclusion is that the recall period must be carefully chosen to balance patient burden, the need for accurate data, and the particular characteristics of the disease and study design, without a universal standard applicable to all situations.
