title: Methods of evaluation in outcomes research.
abstract: This activity is designed for pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare team members; payers for health services; and healthcare executives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide basic information on the methods used and computer software available for evaluating invariant factorial structures, such as those found in health status measurement tools.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1. Discuss why comparison of mean scores may not be appropriate when interpreting humanistic outcomes results. 2. Identify alternative methods for evaluating data from health status measurement tools, such as the SF-36. 3. Define validity, reliability, and structure. 4. Understand the value of structural equation modeling when using health status measurement tools, such as the SF-36. 5. Describe the statistical software used to perform structural equation modeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacoeconomics, University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, Memphis 38163, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014481:United States