| Session Title: Alternative Approaches to Assessing Outcomes in Health Services Research |
| Multipaper Session 629 to be held in International Room on Friday, November 9, 1:55 PM to 3:25 PM |
| Sponsored by the Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Souraya Sidani, Ryerson University, s.sidani@utoronto.ca |
| Abstract: Demonstrating the effectiveness of health care requires an accurate assessment of the extent to which patients achieve the desired outcomes. Trends in health services outcome research have witnessed an expansion of what is considered desired outcomes to include patients' perspective on various dimensions of health including symptoms, functional status, and general health. Determining the effects of health care on these outcomes involves examining changes in the outcomes that are observed following a care episode. Prospective assessment, which involves measurement before and after a care episode, is the traditional method for examining changes in outcomes. Prospective assessment may be difficult to implement within the context of shortened care episode. In this panel, the utility of alternative approaches for outcome assessment, retrospective pretest and transitional or perceived change scales, is explored and illustrated with examples from a methodological study. |
| Approaches to Outcomes Assessment: Advantages and Limitations |
| Joyal Miranda, University of Toronto, joyal.miranda@utoronto.ca |
| The first presentation focuses on the advantages and limitations of the three approaches to measurement, that is, prospective assessment, retrospective pretest, and transition or perceived change scales. The methodological and clinical issues with each approach are reviewed. The design of the study in which the three approaches were tested will be presented, setting the stage for the next two presentations. |
| Feasibility and Reliability of Retrospective and Transition Measures |
| Souraya Sidani, Ryerson University, s.sidani@utoronto.ca |
| The second paper presents results of feasibility and reliability test of the transition and retrospective pretest. Feasibility will be discussed in terms of percentage of missing data and of qualitative comments provided by participants on issues with responding to the items. Test - retest reliability results will be discussed. |
| Detecting Changes in Outcomes: Performance of Three Approaches to Assessment |
| David Streiner, University of Toronto, dstreiner@klaru-baycrest.on.ca |
| In the third paper, results of comparison of the three approaches to outcome assessment (prospective, retrospective, and transition) in terms of their ability to detect changes in patient groups with different acute condition and trajectories of change. |