title: The language of outcomes.
abstract: Outcomes are a topic of great interest. Their potential is considerable as a mechanism to evaluate quality, improve effectiveness, and link practice to professional accountability. Greater clarity and precision in the use of outcomes terminology will allow this potential to be realized. This article identifies the current confusion in outcomes terminology, begins an outcomes lexicon, and issues a call to action for further clarification in the language of outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Staggers
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D014481:United States