Guide to Selecting Outcome Measures

Original Editor - Sinead Greenan Top Contributors - Angeliki Chorti, Oyemi Sillo, 127.0.0.1, Lucy Aird, Evan Thomas, Sinead Greenan and Claire Knott

The following checklist is intended to provide a framework that guides clinicians in appraising and selecting appropriate outcome measures for their patients.

Why Am I Using the Outcome Measure?

• Identifying the impact of a disorder on an individual?
• Establishing a baseline measure from which to monitor changes over time?
• Evaluating the impact of an intervention?
• Evaluating the needs of those attending a service?

What Am I Aiming to Measure?

• Impairments of body structure and function?
• Activity limitations?
• Participation restrictions?
• Quality of life?

Have the Psychometric Properties of this Tool Been Measured in a Population Similar to Mine?

• Do the study samples have the same condition?
• Is the study sample similar in disease severity?
• Is the study sample similar in disease-specific factors?

Has the Outcome Measure been Studied and Reported Appropriately?

• Is the purpose of the study clearly defined and focused on examining one or more psychometric properties?
• Is the instrument adequately described and there is a standardised protocol for administration and scoring?
• Have the examiners / testers been appropriately trained?
• Were the data collected on an appropriate and adequate sample?

Is the Outcome Measure Reliable?

• Do I know the rate of error detected with scores?
• Do I know the minimum detectable change?
• Does the measure capture clinical change?

Is the Outcome Measure Valid?

• Does it measure what I want it to measure?
• Does the measure make intrinsic sense? (face validity)
• Does the measure sample the content / domain adequately? (content validity)
• Is there evidence of comparison to other measures or samples? (construct validity)

Is the Outcome Measure Responsive to Change?

• Is there a known minimum clinically important difference?

Financial Considerations

• What is the cost of this test?
• Is a licence required?
• Is equipment required?

Therapist Implementation

• Is the measure easy for a clinician to conduct?
• Is special training required/available?
• Are there clear standardised instructions on how to carry out and score the measure?
• How long does it take to carry out the measure?
• How long does it take to record results?

Resources

• Is special equipment or are special forms required?
• Is space sufficient for this measure to be carried out?

Client

• How much time does it take for the person to complete?
• Is the task difficult?
• Is privacy required?

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROM)

• Is face-to-face contact required or can this measure be completed in the waiting room?
• Does the questionnaire cover sensitive personal issues?
• Is there a specific reading level required?
• Is the measure available in other languages?

Resources

COSMIN - Improving the selection of outcome measure instruments in research and clinical practice.