The consumer reported outcome measures Repository is a measurement instrument knowledge base developed by Mapi Research Trust (MRT) for Philip Morris International (PMI) in June 2016. It enables PMI researchers to identify and select measures to assess tobacco-related consumer outcomes, to consult up-to-date information related to the measures of interest, and to localize instruments used in past and on-going in-house studies. This paper presents 1) the development and implementation of the Repository, and 2) the evolution of its content, structure, and functionalities from its implementation, to-date.

The Repository structure was established in two folders, an instrument folder and a study folder. A comparison was conducted between the initial implementation and the actual content, based on searches in the Repository, Quality Checks, and Internal Reports.

At the first Quality Check, in April 2017, the instrument folder comprised 58 instruments, with 44 focusing on tobacco behaviour (75 %). The study-folder comprised six studies. To date (April 2019), the Repository comprises 117 instruments, with two-third focusing on tobacco behavior, and 35 studies. Since its development in June 2016, four main functionalities have been implemented to the Repository: the possibility to upload additional instrument-related documentation, a full-text search functionality, automatic email alerts of instrument/metadata updates, and statistics on external licensing requests regarding instruments from the ABOUT™ Toolbox developed by PMI.

This unique initiative enables PMI researchers 1) to assess, select and use up-to-date and official versions (original and translations) of instruments in a standardized environment, and 2) to transfer them to the study operation team during the study set-up phase; 3) to share their own instruments with the scientific community; and 4) moreover, in tight collaboration with MRT, to implement new functionalities in the Repository, allowing the dynamic tool to meet PMI researchers’ needs.