Metrics used to assess core outcomes of PGHD captured via mHealth for SSI surveillance should align with value propositions held by stakeholders, including patients, providers, administrators, payers, researchers, and public health. Such metrics include patient satisfaction/experience, health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and public health data utilization.
Outcome and utilization evaluation is needed to expand the evidence base for using PGHD captured via mHealth for SSI surveillance. The field is nascent and the state of the evidence is extremely encouraging but will require additional evidence generation in order to reach the promise that initial research suggests is possible. Full assessment should include an evaluation framework that matches the needs and value propositions held by the multiple stakeholder groups involved. Evaluations to date have primarily focused on clinical, patient/provider utilization, patient/provider satisfaction, and to a lesser extent cost and workflow outcomes. These metrics are important, but do not by themselves constitute a complete evaluation framework that could support the scale and spread of PGHD captured via mHealth for SSI surveillance; additional metrics are needed.
In developing metrics for evaluation of PGHD captured via mHealth for SSI surveillance consider the following:
Evaluation metrics to address patient needs and value propositions. In addition to satisfaction and clinical outcomes, these metrics should include patient-centered outcomes derived by identifying patients’ core value and needs via stakeholder engagement work.
Evaluation metrics to address provider needs and value propositions. Providers we spoke with identify clinical outcomes as a top priority for evaluation, however additional metrics should be employed to directly address the needs that are specific to providers engaging with mHealth/PGHD tools and programs for SSI surveillance. Metrics should incorporate outcomes related to provider satisfaction, workflow, and time and resource efficiency among other measures.
Evaluation metrics to address clinic staff needs and value propositions. The clinic staff who support mHealth programs have needs unique to their work facilitating the flow and use of PGHD captured via mHealth for SSI surveillance. Metrics should be developed to address the key outcomes important to monitoring the workflow and other concerns important to support the needs of clinic staff.
Metrics should be developed to address the additional needs and value propositions held by other stakeholder groups including health system administrators, public health professionals, the research community, payers, and industry/development professionals. Metrics may include cost evaluation, data utilization, and other assessments important to support the work of these and other stakeholders.