title: Developing a self-report outcome measure for complementary and alternative medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to develop a pilot measure of subjective outcomes of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Current options for assessing subjective outcomes in CAM are either too burdensome or fail to represent diverse outcomes. A single measure specifying common, patient-reported outcomes of CAM would be of value.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a three-phase instrument development study. In phase I, 30 CAM-receiving patients and 12 CAM practitioners completed a battery of standardized measures. Participants identified those standardized items relevant to CAM outcome and suggested additional outcome issues. In phase II, 20 CAM-receiving patients completed a Q-sort to determine which items from phase I were most relevant to CAM outcome. In phase III, five experts reviewed the items from phase II for content validity.
  
  
  METHODS
  An integrative medicine clinic at a private, Midwest US hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  CAM patients, practitioners, and researchers and an outcomes measurement specialist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In phase I, 30 standardized items were judged relevant to CAM outcome, and 8 additional items were suggested. In phase II, 29 of the 38 phase I items were deemed at least "moderately relevant" to CAM outcome. In phase III, experts added 15 items, dropped 9 items, and altered 3 items. The 35 resulting items were classified into content domains, forming a testable, pilot version of the instrument.
authors.affiliation: Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL, USA. d-eton@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Eton
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koffler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Astin
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010361:Patients; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D012650:Self Disclosure