Data collection strategies for patient-reported information.

The U.S. health care transition demands increased accountability for medical care. This has contributed to increased interest in documenting medical outcomes, including improvements in health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction. These data can only be obtained by asking patients directly about their current health state, perception of well-being, and satisfaction with care. Systematic collection of patient-reported data is often poorly done because its demands are underestimated and inadequately supported. Rigorous quality assurance is critical in any clinical trial or treatment delivery evaluation program.