A Patient-reported Outcome Measure for Effect of Glucocorticoid Therapy in Adults with Inflammatory Diseases Is Needed: Report from the OMERACT 2016 Special Interest Group

Objective: The need for a standardized instrument to measure the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy has been well documented in the literature. The aim of the first GC Special Interest Group was to define a research agenda around the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) in this area. Methods: The results of a background literature search and the preliminary results of a pilot survey and 2 qualitative studies were presented to facilitate the development of a research agenda. Results: It was agreed that there was a need for a data-driven PROM that identified both positive and negative effects of GC therapy to be used across all inflammatory indications for systemic GC use in adults. A research agenda was developed, consisting of further qualitative work to assess the effect of GC across different groups including various indications for GC use, different age groups, different dosages, and duration of treatment. Conclusion: There was agreement on the need for a PROM in this area and a research agenda was set.