Evidence Based Practice modules-Measure,emt Scales in Clinkical Research of the Epper Extremity, Part 1

Measure,emt Scales in Clinkical Research of the Epper Extremity, Part 1

Pdf Summary

This document is a review article that discusses the importance of measurement in clinical research, specifically in the context of upper extremity conditions. The article focuses on the general principles of measurement instruments and describes the measurement of general health, pain, and patient satisfaction.<br /><br />The article emphasizes the importance of reliability, validity, and responsiveness in measurement instruments. Reliability refers to the consistency of measurements, while validity refers to the accuracy of measurements. Responsiveness refers to the ability of an instrument to detect change in the phenomenon being measured.<br /><br />The article also discusses the use of generic health measures in evaluating overall health and well-being. These measures, such as the SF-36, assess various facets of functioning and have been used extensively in clinical research. However, they may not be as applicable to conditions that specifically affect the upper extremity.<br /><br />Disease-specific measures, on the other hand, focus on evaluating disease status and measuring changes in disease activity. These measures are often more responsive to changes in specific conditions and are therefore better suited for evaluating outcomes related to surgical interventions.<br /><br />Region-specific measures are another type of measurement instrument that evaluates the overall status of the limb as a unit. These measures provide a global assessment of the upper extremity and can be useful for comparing different conditions that affect the entire limb.<br /><br />Pain measurement is a crucial component in clinical research, and the article highlights the limitations of visual analog scales (VAS) in assessing pain. While VAS have good reliability, they assume linearity and uniform scaling of pain, which may not be accurate. Multidimensional pain scales, such as the McGill Pain Questionnaire, provide a more comprehensive assessment of pain by incorporating various dimensions of the pain experience.<br /><br />Lastly, the article discusses the complex issue of patient satisfaction and the need to evaluate satisfaction within the specific context of the research question. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the scope of the construct being assessed and choosing appropriate scales or questions to effectively evaluate patient satisfaction.<br /><br />Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the importance of measurement in clinical research of the upper extremity and offers guidance on selecting appropriate measurement instruments for different research needs.

Keywords

measurement

clinical research

upper extremity conditions

measurement instruments

general health

pain

patient satisfaction

reliability

validity

responsiveness