Interpreting patient-reported outcome results: US FDA guidance and emerging methods

Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2011 Apr;11(2):163-9. doi: 10.1586/erp.11.12.

Abstract

In recent years, the US FDA has become more critical of instruments used to measure patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical trials. To facilitate decisions related to the approval of drugs, labels and promotional claims based on PROs, the FDA created the Study Endpoints and Label Development (SEALD) group. SEALD has developed a PRO guidance related to the use of PRO measures used to support drug approvals and label claims, including recommendations for establishing thresholds for meaningful change at the individual level (i.e., defining a responder). This article examines in detail the FDA-recommended methodology for defining a responder and analyzing responder-based PRO measure results. We also present other responder analysis approaches for consideration in furthering the precision and interpretation of this methodology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic*
  • Guidelines as Topic*
  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods*
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration