Psychological, cultural, behavioural, environmental and economic factors are today recognized as potential influences on health. However, in epidemiology and clinical research, resolving these “unique individual circumstances” remains a challenge. Researchers, physicians and policy-makers are often faced with problems of measuring and interpreting patients’ experiences, their adaptation to disease, their relationship with their environment, their preferences and feelings, and the impact that the perception of their illness can have on their prognosis.
SPHERE aims to promote patient-centred methodological research and to strengthen the contribution of patient-reported data (quality of life, fatigue, well-being, etc.) in decision-making and health care evaluation.
