title: Strategies for assessment and outcome measurement in physical and rehabilitation medicine: an educational review.
abstract: The aim of this educational review, which is based upon expert opinion, is to describe to clinicians training in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and research students training to work in the field, the appropriate attributes and standards required for assessment and outcome measurement. "What to assess" is discussed in the context of the conceptual framework provided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, supplemented with quality of life as an additional construct. The reasons for making the assessment, and the context in which the assessment will be used, are then considered. Examples of recommendations of some international organizations regarding what and how to assess are presented. Suggestions are made about the selection of assessment tools, including examples from two diagnostic groups: stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, the basic psychometric standards required for any assessment tool, and additional requirements for outcome assessment, are explained.
authors.affiliation: University of Ankara, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkey. ayse@tepa.com.tr
authors.forename: Ayşe A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Küçükdeveci
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimby
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franchignoni
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003657:Decision Making; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000193:education*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000193:education*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation