Towards better care: Comprehensive review of patient-reported patient engagement instruments in healthcare.

Abstract

Patient engagement is widely recognized as essential for improving healthcare quality and reducing costs; however, its formal evaluation presents significant challenges. The aim of this review was to assess instruments for measuring patient engagement in healthcare from the patients' perspective and to evaluate their psychometric properties. A systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of patient-reported questionnaires assessing patient engagement. Studies published up to August 4, 2024, were included and appraised using the COSMIN checklist. Forty-one studies were included in this review. The most commonly used content to describe patient engagement were 'preference', 'experiences', 'willingness', and 'informative feedback'. Few patient engagement questionnaires were designed for specific populations and lack theoretical foundation. Further research is essential to develop valid, reliable, and feasible methodologies for assessing patient engagement within the framework of ongoing care quality improvement. Evaluating patient engagement instruments aids in developing reliable and valid tools that better align with patient needs and preferences.