Sahlgrenska University Hospital is establishing a unique Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare.

“The perspectives of children and families have historically been at the heart of clinical care and research at Queen Silvia Children's Hospital. Incorporating families' perspectives systematically and scientifically is essential for the advancement of future pediatric healthcare and for optimizing the received value of the children and families we serve." says Kate Abrahamsson, professor and head of the Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures (PROM) in Pediatric Healthcare aims to improve clinical care and research, and ultimately the quality of life in children affected by disease and their families. The use of PROMs enables the inclusion of the perspectives of children and their families in the advancement and improvement of care and treatment.

“Different patient groups have achieved different measures of progress within PROM research, but all children have the right to express their views in all matters affecting them, to develop their full potential and to reach the highest attainable standard of health. This is clearly stated in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is Swedish law. "We intend for our center of excellence to raise awareness and bring PROM in pediatric healthcare to attention. We also intend to facilitate national and international collaboration concerning the perspectives of children and families," says Michaela Dellenmark-Blom, the Director of the new center, Associate Professor, and researcher with long experience of national and international PROM research in children.

This Center of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare is a unique initiative for a children's hospital in Europe, as it has a profile with a focus on children with rare or complex health conditions and will include contributions from an experienced multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing guidance and facilitating activities of patient-reported outcomes in research, care and treatment.

“Sahlgrenska University Hospital is committed to reinforce the voices of children and families within pediatric healthcare. Our new Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare is an important part of our ambition to become the leading university hospital in Europe by 2032,' says Boubou Hallberg, Chief Executive Officer at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

About the Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare

The goal of the Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare is to improve the quality of care, research, and ultimately the quality of life in children impacted by disease as well as in their families. The Center is being established in collaboration with the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

At Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, there are already ongoing PROM research activities led by many experienced and prominent researchers. The Center of Excellence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Pediatric Healthcare will aim to increase their visibility, enhance collaboration and create a working group focusing on PROMs in pediatric healthcare. Through these group members’ expertise, the Center plans to provide training and education, advise to healthcare professionals, researchers and managers, facilitate PROM research, and identify models for PROM implementation in clinical care. Furthermore, the center will collaborate with the units of clinical trials in pediatric care, national highly specialised care, and representatives from European Reference Networks for rare and complex conditions.