About ProQolid


» Background and objectives

» PROQOLID content

» How to search for instruments?

» General policy

» How do I subscribe to PROQOLID's advanced level?


Background and objectives


The success of Quality of Life (QOL) and Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) studies depends a great deal on the choice of appropriate instruments. They must be selected according to the domains they measure and the populations and pathologies for which they are designed. Practical issues, such as the availability of different translations, copyrights, and access to instruments are also major criteria in the choice of instruments.

From these observations, the Quality of Life Instruments Database (QOLID) project was initiated by Mapi Research Institute to provide all those involved in health care
evaluation with a comprehensive and unique source of information on PRO and QOL measures available through the Internet. In collaboration with Dr. Marcello Tamburini (Director, Unit of Psychology, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy), the developer of the QLMed.org web site, QOLID was launched at the beginning of 2002. It is currently managed by Mapi Research Trust and was renamed ProQolid, short for “Patient-Reported Outcome and Quality of life Instruments Database” in January 2005.

Through the structured presentation of synthesized, reliable and constantly updated data on PRO instruments, the ProQolid database aims to:

  • Provide an overview of existing PRO instruments
  • Provide relevant and updated information on PRO instruments
  • Facilitate access to the instruments and their developers
  • Facilitate the choice of an appropriate PRO instrument
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ProQolid content


 The information on the ProQolid website is structured in two levels:
  • Level 1. Free access:
This level is available to all visitors at no charge. For each instrument, it provides the following brief and descriptive information:

 

 

[a]  Pathology: the term "pathology" refers to a large therapeutic area and can cover several diseases. On the other hand, the term "disease" refers to a specific, precisely defined condition. The ProQolid list of pathologies/diseases is in accordance with the established classification system well-known to scientists (MESH: Medical Subject Headings of the National Library of Medicine). However some conditions such as "menopause" are related to a pathology so that they can be searched through the advanced search engine.
Bacterial infections and mycoses
Infections caused by bacteria and fungi, general, specified, or unspecified
Cardiovascular diseases
Pathological conditions involving the cardiovascular system including the heart; the blood vessels; or the pericardium
Congenital, hereditary and neonatal diseases and abnormalities
Diseases existing at birth and often before birth, or that develop during the first month of life (infant, newborn, diseases), regardless of causation. Of these diseases, those characterized by structural deformities are termed congenital abnormalities
Digestive system diseases
Diseases in any part of the gastrointestinal tract or the accessory organs (liver; biliary tract; pancreas)
Disorders of environmental origin
Disorders representing collectively the results of assault by external forces, rather than by organic or physiologic dysfunction or by pathogens (e.g. substance-related disorders, wounds and injuries)
Endocrine system diseases
Pathological processes of the endocrine glands, and diseases resulting from abnormal level of available hormones
Eye diseases
Diseases pertaining to the eye
Female genital disease and pregnancy complications
Pathological processes of the female reproductive system (genitalia, female), and disorders related to pregnancy. Female sexuality and menopause are included
Hemic and Lymphatic diseases
Hematologic diseases and diseases of the lymphatic system collectively. Hemic diseases include disorders involving the formed elements (e.g., erythrocyte aggregation, intravascular) and chemical components (e.g., blood protein disorders); lymphatic diseases include disorders relating to lymph, lymph nodes, and lymphocytes
Immune system diseases
Disorders caused by abnormal or absent immunologic mechanisms, whether humoral, cell-mediated, or both
Male Genital diseases
Pathological processes involving the male reproductive tract (genitalia, male). Male sexuality is included
Musculoskeletal diseases
Diseases of the muscles and their associated ligaments and other connective tissue and of the bones and cartilage viewed collectively
Neoplasms
New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms
Nervous System diseases
Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscle
Nutritional and metabolic diseases
A collective term for nutritional disorders resulting from poor absorption or nutritional imbalance, and metabolic disorders resulting from defects in biosynthesis (anabolism) or breakdown (catabolism) of endogenous substances
Otorhinolaryngologic diseases
Pathological processes of the ear, the nose, and the throat, also known as the ENT diseases
Parasitic diseases
Infections or infestations with parasitic organisms. They are often contracted through contact with an intermediate vector, but may occur as the result of direct exposure
Pathological conditions signs and symptoms
Abnormal anatomical or physiological conditions and objective or subjective manifestations of disease, not classified as disease or syndrome (e.g. inflammation, alopecia, fatigue, pain)
Psychiatry/Psychology
Psychiatry: the medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental disorders / Psychology: the science dealing with the study of mental processes and behavior
Respiratory tract diseases
Diseases pertaining to the respiratory system
Skin and connective tissue diseases
A collective term for diseases of the skin and its appendages and of connective tissue
Stomatognathic diseases
General or unspecified diseases of the stomatognathic system, comprising the mouth, teeth, jaws, and pharynx
Surgical procedures, operative
Operations carried out for the correction of deformities and defects, repair of injuries, and diagnosis and cure of certain diseases
Urologic diseases
Pathological processes of the urinary tract in both males and females
Virus diseases
A general term for diseases produced by viruses
The list of diseases is available here.

[b]  Population: this field describes the target population of the instrument as selected by the following descriptors:
Adolescent
Adult
All
Caregivers
Female
Geriatrics
Male
Pediatrics (neonate, infant and child)
Terminal patients
[c]  Type of instrument: this category refers to the major concept assessed by the instrument:
Health-Related Quality of life (HRQL)
HRQL is multidimensional and represents the patient's evaluation of a health condition and its treatment on daily life: physical function, psychological function, social function, role function, emotional function, well-being, vitality, health status etc.
Health-Related Quality of end of life
Same as HRQL at the end of life
Patient satisfaction
Evaluation of treatments, patients preference, health care delivery systems and professionals, patient education programs and medical devices
Physical functioning
Physical limitations and activity restrictions, e.g., self-care, walking, mobility, sleep, sexual, disability
Psychological functioning
Positive or negative affect and cognitive, e.g. anger, alertness, self-esteem, sense of well-being, distress, coping
Signs and symptoms
Reports of physical and psychological symptoms or sensations not directly observable, e.g., energy and fatigue, nausea, irritability
Social functioning
Limitations in work or school, participation in community
Treatment adherence
Reports or observations of actual use of treatments
Utility
Generic measures of HRQol with societal reference weights for their classification systems that can help to inform health-care resource allocation.
Utilities provide a useful summary index of overall QoL relative to full health (utility = 1) and death (utility = 0)

[d]  Mode of administration: the following modes of administration may be cited:
Caregiver-administered
A caregiver asks the patient questions and completes the instrument from the patient’s perspective
Computer-administered
The instrument is completed on the computer
Electronic version
The instrument is completed on an electronic device. The data is compiled automatically
IVR-version
(IVR: Interactive Voice Response System)
The subject completes the instrument using a software application which enables users to enter data on a telephone keypad or to input information by voice
Interviewer-administered
An interviewer asks the patient questions and completes the instrument from the patient’s perspective
Nurse-rated
The instrument is completed by a nurse from his/her observation of the patient
Clinician-rated
The instrument is completed by a clinician from his/her observation of the patient
Proxy-administered
A proxy asks the patient questions and completes the instrument from the patient’s perspective
Proxy-rated
The instrument is completed by a proxy from his/her observation of the patient
Self-administered
The instrument is completed by the patient himself
Telephone-administered
During a telephone interview an interviewer asks the patient questions and completes the instrument from the patient’s perspective
[e]  Existence of a database: a database is created by collecting and pooling the instrument's data from national and international studies.

[f]  List of existing translations: the translations may not have undergone a full linguistic validation process. Please check status of translations with Mapi Research Trust / the developers / copyright holders / distributors
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  • Level 2. Restricted access (for ProQolid's members only)
        • Level 2.1: Practical information

This advanced level, which is accessible to subscribers only, presents a greater degree of practical information on the instruments and, when available, includes the review copy of the instrument, its translations and the user manual:

N.B: ProQolid provides descriptive information on the instruments. This content is based on information collected in the literature and validated by the authors of the questionnaires. The adequacy of study methodology and psychometric properties is not evaluated. The instruments presented in ProQolid may have specific conditions 
of use. Copies of the instruments are presented for a review purpose only. The instruments themselves may require direct contact with, and additional payment of fees to the instruments' copyright holders. 


        • Level 2.2: The PRO database identification form

To facilitate the researcher’s access to information on available datasets, we aim to identify, list and describe existing PRO databases created from national or international clinical studies. By making this available, data interpretation can be improved through access to comparative data from studies using the same or different PRO instruments.
The focus of the resulting collection is to provide practical information available on the Internet and not access to the data itself.

For over 50 instruments, a PRO database created from the collection and centralization of instrument's data from national and international studies was identified.

The general description of each database includes its location, conditions of access and the contact details of the person or organization for more information.

More specific information is provided on the structure of the database, the surveyed population(s) and the various study(ies) in which the instrument was used. Furthermore, reference is made to population size and availability of data per study, age group, sex, ethnicity, disease, condition severity or country.


Updates:

* All instruments described in the database are updated at least once a year in direct collaboration with their developers
* New information is provided on each instrument
* New instruments are added each year.
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How to search for instruments?
  
The instruments listed in ProQolid are classified according to different criteria to enable more efficient searches. The different lists are accessible from the Search page of ProQolid. Click on the free access or restricted access icon of the Home page to display the Search page.

  • Access to the instruments by alphabetical list: over 1000 instruments are listed in alphabetical order according to their abbreviated name. Please click on any letter at the top of the page and the corresponding alphabetical list will appear. The aim of the list is to give an overview of existing PRO instruments. Note: Some instruments are only listed (instruments that are not shown in bold green characters). For the 620+ instruments that are in bold, you can access the free level of information by simply clicking on the green link (the abbreviated name of the instrument).
  • Access to the generic instruments: the generic instruments are listed on a separate webpage.
  • Access to the instruments by pathology/disease: a specific webpage is dedicated to each pathology. In each pathology, the instruments are listed either as generic instruments of the pathology or by a specific disease. The classification by pathology and disease has been structured based on the Medline's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to ensure that the concepts are widely accepted. Please note that some diseases may be part of several pathologies, e.g., the disease "dementia" is part of both the pathologies "Neurology" and "Psychiatry/Psychology".
  • Access to the instruments by targeted population: the webpage lists the instruments as they apply to specific populations.
  • Access to the instruments by author's name: for each instrument described in ProQolid, the author's name is mentioned in the list, in alphabetical order. Please click on any letter at the top of the page and the corresponding alphabetical list will appear.
  • Search engine: you may search for instruments according to 11 criteria, including the name of the questionnaire, the pathology, the population or the available
    languages. The various criteria may be crossed using the following Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT.
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General policy

  
Mapi Research Trust is a non-profit organization that promotes Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO). By developing ProQolid, we provide a tool that improves the knowledge
and thereby the relevant use of PRO instruments and also enlarges access to PRO resources for all those involved in this field.

For this reason, a significant part of ProQolid has been made accessible to all users free of charge. However, in the aim to further develop and improve the database by
adding more instruments and/or additional information on each instrument, a financial participation is required in order to access ProQolid advanced level. This financial
participation, in the form of a yearly subscription fee, will enable us to further develop this database. By subscribing to ProQolid , you are supporting the continuous
collection and update of PRO resources.

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How do I subscribe to PROQOLID's advanced level?

Yearly subscriptions are offered to students, universities, hospitals, institutions, non-profit organizations, as well as pharmaceutical and profit-making companies.
Subscriptions offer full access to ProQolid for one year. Access is granted through the allocation of personal passwords for each subscription.

To subscribe to ProQolid, you may either:

ISOQOL members benefit from a new arrangement with Mapi Research Trust

The Mapi Research Trust and the ISOQOL Board of Directors have settled on a generous discount program on PROQOLID annual subscriptions.
It enables the ISOQOL’s members to save up to 25% on yearly subscriptions to our online Patient-Reported Outcome and Quality of Life Instruments Database.
This arrangement makes PROQOLID more affordable than ever to ISOQOL’s approximately 600 members worldwide.
Please go to the online payment page.

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