Introduction to special section on patient-reported outcomes in nonstandard settings

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are increasingly being used in unprecedented contexts due to the growth in technology, quantitative methods for developing and evaluating tools, and the accessibility of sophisticated ways of collecting and displaying data. Although many manuscripts that cross our path as editors report on the use of PROs in formal research settings (e.g., randomized clinical trials and epidemiology cohort studies), it is clear that there has been substantial growth recently in the use of social media, smart phone apps, and other computer-based devices. These applications highlight the potential for PROs to be deployed fruitfully in novel settings that can inform and impact population health. …