PROMIS investigators decided to focus items on patient report of current capability rather than recall of function over a specified time frame. This was done to make it possible to answer items that refer to functions that might not have been actually conducted during the recall period. In 2020, Condon and colleagues tested the wisdom of this approach. They compared the original “no recall” items with identical item stems, but using 24-hour and 7-day recall periods. They report “Compared to no recall, the use of a recall period has little to no effect upon PROMIS physical function responses or scores” (p. 745). Consequently, this supports the original “no recall” condition. Use of a recall period is not recommended for physical function.

Condon, D.M., Chapman, R., Shaunfield, S., Kallen, M.A., Beaumont, J.L., Eek, D., Mitra, D., Benjamin, K.L., McQuarrie, K., Liu, J., Shaw, J.W., Nguyen, A.M., Keating, K., & Cella, D. (2020). Quality of Life Research, 29, 745-753. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-019-02344-0

PROMIS Physical Function measures do not include a recall period. Does that matter?