Implementation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Primary Care: Challenges and Future Directions in Saudi Arabia

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become increasingly central to global health systems as they shift toward value-based, person-centered models of care. In Saudi Arabia, the Health Sector Transformation Program under Vision 2030 has created a national mandate for improving clinical outcomes, strengthening primary healthcare services, and enhancing patient experience. PROMs provide a systematic means of capturing patients' perceptions of their symptoms, functional health, and quality of life, thereby delivering information that complements clinical assessments and supports shared decision-making. Despite their growing importance, the integration of PROMs into primary care settings across Saudi Arabia remains incomplete, and their implementation varies across health clusters. This review examines the rationale for PROM use, evaluates their applicability to Saudi primary care, discusses cultural and operational barriers, and outlines strategies for sustainable adoption within the evolving digital health ecosystem. The review contextualizes PROMs within national policies, emerging digital platforms, and the shifting landscape of chronic disease management in the Kingdom, concluding that PROMs have the potential to become a foundational element of Saudi Arabia's value-based primary care model.