title: A classification scheme for outcome indicators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a framework for classifying outcome indicators for a more comprehensive view of outcomes and quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of outcomes literature published since 1974 from medicine, nursing, and health services research to identify indicators. Outcome indicators were clustered inductively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three groups of outcome indicators were identified: patient-focused, provider-focused, and organization-focused. Although investigators tend to focus on a select few outcome indicators, such as patient satisfaction, quality of life, and mortality, many indicators exist to measure outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selecting and integrating a wide array of outcome indicators from the various categories will provide a more balanced view of health care delivery as compared with focusing on a few common indicators or only one category.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Falls Church, VA, USA. bonnie.jennings@otsg.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Staggers
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Brosch
mesh_terms: D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000145:classification*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000145:classification*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results