Selecting outcome measures for clinical practice or research needs to be based on a critical evaluation of the evidence on the validity and reliability of the available measures. This paper presents both a theoretical framework based on the methodological literature of how these psychometric properties can be assessed and a checklist designed to facilitate the critical appraisal of studies on outcome measures.
Through examples drawn from the published literature, the concepts of instrument validity, reliability and responsiveness and how these can be evaluated and reported are illustrated. It is suggested that a structured checklist can facilitate a more evidence-based approach to the selection and employment of outcome measures in clinical practice and research.
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