Introducing the PRO-diGI: a new PROM for gastrointestinal recovery.
The PRO-diGI (Patient Reported Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Recovery) is a 16-item questionnaire designed to assess gastrointestinal function following hospital admission for surgery or bowel-related conditions. Developed for both clinical and research use, it captures the patient’s experience of gut recovery through a structured evaluation of key symptoms, offering a more complete picture than clinical observation alone.
The measure was developed by Matthew J. Lee, Daniel M. Baker and Georgina L. Jones, with contributions from a wide network of collaborators including patients, clinicians and researchers across the UK. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals hold the copyright for the PRO-diGI, and we are honoured to manage its licensing and stewardship on their behalf.
The development of the PRO-diGI was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), whose support enabled a rigorous, multi-stage process involving patient interviews, clinical input and psychometric testing. The result is a condition-specific PROM that reflects the real-world experiences of patients recovering from gastrointestinal surgery — and fills a longstanding gap in the evidence base.
Since its publication, demand for the PRO-diGI has been exceptional. Even before the peer-reviewed paper was made public, we began receiving licensing requests. That early interest has only grown, with researchers and healthcare providers already integrating the measure into studies and care pathways.
We take our responsibility for this measure seriously. The PRO-diGI is now part of our growing portfolio of PROMs and will be carefully stewarded by our team. That means ensuring its scientific integrity is upheld, that it is used appropriately, and that its validity is protected over time. This is not just about maintenance. It is about thoughtful, ongoing care.
Managing Director Dr David Churchman said:
“We are delighted to be managing the PRO-diGI. This tool reflects our mission to make patient experiences visible and actionable, not just in research but in everyday healthcare.”
The launch of the PRO-diGI marks another important step in our journey to amplify the patient voice in healthcare and support better outcomes through evidence-based decision-making.
The development of the PRO-diGI was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - Award ID: NIHR201492