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Puntuaciones de resultado: qué miden y qué no miden

What PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures) like the DASH, QuickDASH, SPADI, ASES and PRWE actually are, and how to read your own score. They exist to track how YOUR symptoms and function change over time, and to compare groups of patients in research. They are not a test that decides what treatment you should have — a score does not diagnose anything, and two people with the same number can need completely different things. Covers what the numbers mean, why a change matters more than a single reading, what a 'minimal clinically important difference' is, and the limits of a questionnaire.

Updated Sep 2026

Esta página se tradujo automáticamente y todavía no la ha revisado un médico. La versión en inglés es la versión oficial.

¿Qué es?

Una medida de resultado reportada por el paciente es un cuestionario que usted completa acerca de su propia salud. En lugar de un examen realizado por el médico, este le pregunta cómo se siente y qué actividades puede realizar. Estos cuestionarios existen desde al menos la década de 1960, aunque el nombre con el que se conocen es más reciente [1].

El médico no puede observar el dolor o el cansancio mediante una radiografía ni mediante un examen físico. Diversas investigaciones indican que aspectos como el rango de movimiento y la fuerza no son tan fiables como se podría pensar; por eso, cada vez más clínicas preguntan directamente a los pacientes [2]. Esa es la función de estos cuestionarios: capturan su percepción personal sobre su propia funcionalidad y bienestar, algo que ninguna imagen médica ni examen clínico puede detectar [3].

Algunos de estos cuestionarios contienen largas listas de preguntas sobre la vida cotidiana. Otros más recientes, como las escalas PROMIS desarrolladas por una red de investigación estadounidense, son más breves y precisos [4]. Puede completar uno en papel con un bolígrafo, o responder algunas preguntas mediante mensajes de texto en su teléfono. Los estudios demuestran que ambos métodos arrojan puntuaciones similares [5].

Sus respuestas se puntúan y se comparan a lo largo del tiempo, lo que permite observar cambios antes y después del tratamiento. Los investigadores también los utilizan para comparar resultados entre grandes grupos de pacientes; no obstante, los datos recopilados no son uniformes ni completos en todos los registros de articulaciones del mundo, lo cual dificulta dichas comparaciones [6].

Un dato importante: estas puntuaciones reflejan promedios en grupos de pacientes. No predicen cómo se sentirá una persona en particular. Su médico empleará su puntuación como una información más, junto con el examen físico y sus propios objetivos, pero no como un veredicto sobre su recuperación.

Por qué es importante

Estos cuestionarios cumplen dos funciones distintas; resulta útil saber cuál es cuál.

La primera función es hacer un seguimiento a lo largo del tiempo. Usted rellena el mismo cuestionario antes y después del tratamiento, de modo que su equipo médico pueda observar cuánto ha cambiado su situación. Por eso, su propia puntuación resulta más útil como indicador de su propio progreso, y no como un número para compararse con otras personas. Dos pacientes pueden partir de puntos diferentes y terminar con puntuaciones distintas, pero ambos pueden haber mejorado igualmente.

La segunda función opera a una escala mucho mayor. Cuando muchos pacientes completan los mismos cuestionarios, se pueden comparar grupos enteros, lo que permite evaluar tratamientos y servicios en toda la población. Así es como los resultados se incorporan a la investigación y a las decisiones sobre la atención médica en general. La recopilación rutinaria de esta información se considera el futuro de la atención sanitaria, pues valora lo que realmente importa a los pacientes [1]; además, integrarla en las consultas ortopédicas habituales es factible y brinda a médicos y pacientes datos sólidos para tomar decisiones conjuntamente [2].

Existe un aspecto importante que conviene conocer. El movimiento que impulsa estos cuestionarios ha sido liderado principalmente por investigadores y quienes financian la atención médica; no siempre se ha centrado en mejorar la atención desde la perspectiva del paciente [3]. Algunas limitaciones en el uso de las puntuaciones podrían explicar por qué su cumplimentación no siempre se traduce en mejores resultados para los pacientes [4].

¿Qué significa esto para usted? Su puntuación es una pieza de información que su médico utiliza junto con el examen clínico y sus propios objetivos. No es una calificación ni una predicción. Lo que ofrece es una forma de poner palabras a los cambios que usted percibe pero que nadie más puede ver, y una forma de que su progreso forme parte de un panorama más amplio que ayuda a evaluar la atención para todos.

¿Qué significan los resultados?

Ya tienes una puntuación. ¿Qué te indica en realidad?

Lo primero que debes saber es que qué dirección indica una mejora depende del cuestionario. El propio formulario, o la persona que te lo aplicó, te indicará en qué sentido se interpreta la puntuación.

Un pequeño cambio en el número puede no significar gran cosa. Los investigadores han estudiado este problema y utilizan varios conceptos para interpretar las puntuaciones. Uno de ellos se llama “diferencia mínima clínicamente importante”, que es el cambio más pequeño que un paciente realmente percibe en su vida cotidiana. Otro concepto es el “estado sintomático aceptable para el paciente”, que es el punto en el que el paciente se siente lo suficientemente bien como para considerar que sus síntomas son aceptables [1].

Aquí está el problema: no existe un umbral único válido para todos. Los valores de estos indicadores varían entre hospitales y entre grupos de pacientes [2]. Distintos métodos de cálculo arrojan resultados muy diferentes [3]; por eso, cualquier valor debe interpretarse como un rango y no como un límite fijo [4]. Así, si tu puntuación varía ligeramente, eso por sí solo no revela mucho. En cambio, volver a medirla más adelante y observar la tendencia que sigue sí aporta mucha más información.

También es importante saber que un cambio puede ser estadísticamente significativo sin que tú lo percibas. Las investigaciones sobre estas mediciones señalan que una diferencia observable en los números no siempre corresponde a una diferencia relevante para ti [5]. Por eso tu equipo médico analiza la puntuación junto con el examen físico y tus propios objetivos, en lugar de considerar el número como la respuesta definitiva.

Otra limitación: no ha surgido aún un único cuestionario que sea el estándar para medir la función. Una revisión encontró 15 herramientas distintas en uso con este fin; por eso los investigadores siguen abogando por una mayor estandarización [6]. Todas estas mediciones aún requieren más estudios para confirmar su eficacia [7].

Por lo tanto, interpreta tu puntuación como una señal más entre varias. Pregúntate qué ha cambiado, en qué medida y si tú lo percibes.

Lo que no puede decirte

Una puntuación obtenida mediante un cuestionario no puede diagnosticar nada. Simplemente registra cómo te sientes, no cuál es tu problema médico. Tampoco determina qué tratamiento deberías recibir; esa decisión corresponde a ti y a tu médico, quienes la tomarán en base al examen clínico, tus objetivos y tu propio criterio, además de la puntuación.

Una sola puntuación tampoco constituye un veredicto sobre tu estado de salud. Estas puntuaciones miden promedios obtenidos de grupos de pacientes; sin embargo, el promedio oculta la gran variedad de experiencias individuales. Dos personas pueden obtener la misma puntuación y sentirse completamente distintas al respecto. Tu propia historia clínica es más importante que tu posición dentro de ese grupo.

Existen algunas dificultades prácticas que conviene conocer. Algunas preguntas podrían no abordar lo que es más importante para ti, ya que no existe un conjunto estandarizado de preguntas aceptado universalmente [1]. Además, muchos resultados tienden a agruparse en los extremos de la escala, por lo que un cambio real en tu estado de ánimo podría no reflejarse en la puntuación. Por último, los umbrales empleados para determinar si un cambio es significativo varían entre hospitales y grupos de pacientes [2]; por eso, una pequeña variación en tu puntuación no tiene el mismo significado en todos los lugares.

En resumen: tu puntuación es solo una de las muchas señales que indican tu estado de salud. Puede ayudarte a expresar con palabras lo que nadie más percibe, así como a hacer un seguimiento de tu evolución con el tiempo. No obstante, no puede indicarte cuál es tu problema médico, decidir por ti el tratamiento adecuado ni resumir tu recuperación en un único número.

En resumen

Estos cuestionarios cumplen una función importante: permiten expresar con sus propias palabras cómo se siente y qué puede hacer, de manera que se pueda hacer un seguimiento a lo largo del tiempo. No constituyen un diagnóstico, no determinan la elección del tratamiento ni predicen su recuperación. Lo más importante es recordar que su puntuación es solo una señal entre varias. Su equipo médico la analiza junto con el examen físico y sus propios objetivos; por eso, un número por sí solo nunca refleja toda la situación.

Referencias

[1] Medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente (PROM): Revisión de medidas genéricas y específicas para cada patología, así como análisis de tendencias y problemas. Health Expectations. 2021. DOI: 10.1111/hex.13254

[2] Medidas de resultados físicos: El papel de la fuerza y el rango de movimiento en la investigación ortopédica. Injury. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2019.11.017

[3] Las medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente (PROM) ya han llegado a la medicina deportiva y del ejercicio: ¿Por qué son importantes?. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093707

[4] Uso de las medidas del Sistema de Información sobre Medición de Resultados Reportados por el Paciente en especialidades ortopédicas: Resultados de una revisión de alcance entre 2018 y 2022. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2025. DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00432

[5] Recopilación de resultados reportados por el paciente; los mensajes de texto en teléfonos móviles proporcionan puntuaciones válidas y altas tasas de respuesta. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2014. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-14-52

[6] CORR Insights®: Recopilación y reporte de medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente en registros de artroplastia: Encuesta multinacional y recomendaciones. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2021. DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000001918

[7] Atención médica basada en el valor: Los resultados reportados por el paciente en la toma de decisiones clínicas. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-016-4813-4

[8] Integración de los resultados reportados por el paciente en la práctica clínica ortopédica: Demostración de concepto a partir del estudio FORCE-TJR. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2013. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-013-3143-z

[9] Medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente en la práctica clínica. BMJ. 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g7818

[10] Beneficios y limitaciones percibidos al utilizar medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente en la práctica clínica individual: Revisión sistemática de estudios cualitativos. Quality of Life Research. 2021. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-03003-z

[11] Llamado a adoptar un enfoque estandarizado para el reporte de medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2021. DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.21.00030

[12] ¿Tiene sentido calcular la diferencia mínima clínicamente importante? Formas de mejorarla. Arthroscopy. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.11.007

[13] La diferencia mínima clínicamente importante: Respuesta. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231189222

[14] La diferencia mínima clínicamente importante: Carta al editor. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231189223

[15] Guías para el reporte adecuado de la significancia clínica, incluyendo la diferencia mínima clínicamente importante, el estado sintomático aceptable para el paciente, el beneficio clínico sustancial y la mejora máxima de los resultados. Arthroscopy. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2022.08.020

[16] Medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente en la práctica avanzada de fisioterapia musculoesquelética: Revisión sistemática. Musculoskeletal Care. 2017. DOI: 10.1002/msc.1200

[17] Evaluación de la calidad de las medidas de resultados reportados por el paciente disponibles para la claudicación intermitente: Revisión sistemática mediante la lista de verificación COSMIN. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2014.12.002


Evidence & references

This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.

Overview

  • Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are critical for capturing the patient's perspective on health status, which cannot be observed through clinical tests or imaging [48].
  • Standardized health-related outcome measures require evidence for change and a way to interpret change within individuals or difference between groups [3].
  • The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) defines the smallest amount an outcome must change to be meaningful to patients [46].
  • The minimum clinically important difference, the standard error of measurement, and the minimum detectable change are proposed as indicators for the clinical interpretation of test scores [1].
  • Lack of consensus in the literature has led to confusion about which measurement properties are relevant, which concepts they represent, and how to assess these measurement properties in terms of design requirements and preferred statistical methods [16].
  • Consensus was reached on how a comprehensive research question can be deduced from the design of a reliability study to determine how the results of a study inform us about the quality of the outcome measurement instrument at issue [2].
  • An appropriate and validated measure that is suitable for both the particular study population and the reason for collecting the PROMs data should be chosen [6].
  • Providing access to PROM scores without clearly understanding how and why surgeons may consider using them can result in expensive and underused systems that add little value [44].
  • Reasons for limited use of PROMs by orthopedic surgeons include a lack of knowledge on how to use them and the perception that it is too time-consuming to add to regular clinical routine [45].
  • Limitations of PROM use in clinical practice shed light on why PROM use may not always improve patient outcomes and provide considerations for the design and implementation of future PROM initiatives [47].
  • PROMIS measures are efficient and precise tools, and their use is expected to continue to increase across medical and surgical specialties as health systems and payers expand their definition of healthcare quality to include patient-reported health outcomes [49].

How It Works

Interpretation and Clinical Utility

  • The minimum clinically important difference, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change are proposed as indicators for the clinical interpretation of test scores [1].
  • Scores from tools designed to measure outcomes that matter to patients have been developed over the past 30 years, but few are used routinely at the point of care [21].
  • An appropriate and validated measure suitable for the particular study population and the reason for collecting data should be chosen for patient-reported outcome measures [6].

Reliability and Validity Assessment

  • The two-way mixed-effect analysis of variance model with interaction for the absolute agreement between single scores is recommended to assess test-retest reliability for patient-reported outcome measures [4].
  • Consensus was reached on how a comprehensive research question can be deduced from the design of a reliability study to determine how results inform about the quality of the outcome measurement instrument [2].
  • The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item banks demonstrated good reliability across most of the score distributions [43].
  • The MOS short form health survey (SF-36) scales met required internal consistency criteria with Cronbach alpha coefficients equaling or exceeding 0.70 in a study conducted in India [33].
  • An assessment tool for brachial plexus regional anesthesia performance demonstrated construct validity by reliably discriminating between different levels of training, with senior trainees performing significantly better than junior trainees on the global rating scale [35].

Standardization and Data Collection

  • Current data collection of patient-reported outcome measures is neither uniform nor complete across the world's registries, which may impact data validity and the ability to compare outcomes [8].
  • No key measure was identified to capture functional status in advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice, with 15 different tools utilized, highlighting the need for greater standardization of outcome measurement [40].
  • Outcomes assessed on numeric rating scales and reported with text-messages on mobile phones provide comparable scores to questionnaires completed with pen and paper [7].

Limitations and Gaps

  • Physical outcome measures such as range of motion and strength are not as reliable measures as one would think, and are being changed for the use of patient reported outcomes [15].
  • All patient-reported outcome measures for intermittent claudication require further validation studies to fill the gaps in their measurement properties [32].

How It Is Used

  • Clinicians can use the minimum clinically important difference, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change to interpret test scores [1].
  • Standardized health-related outcome measures require evidence for change and a method to interpret change within individuals or differences between groups [3].
  • Clinicians must be cautious when accepting a minimal clinically important difference score at face value due to wide variability in established scores for a single outcome scale [5].
  • Outcomes assessed on numeric rating scales via text messages on mobile phones provide comparable scores to those completed with pen and paper questionnaires [7].
  • Investigators can choose thresholds to dichotomize responses on health-related quality of life measures based on absolute scores or change scores to facilitate interpretation [10].
  • Promoting ownership and correct use of the measure by clinicians can improve practice and the quality of care through patient-reported outcome measure data use in clinical decision-making [11].
  • The minimal important difference is not an immutable characteristic and may vary by population and context, meaning no single minimal important difference is valid for all study applications [14].
  • Routine use of patient-reported outcome measures has the potential to help transform healthcare [18].
  • High variability in scale choice and the use of measures not validated in pediatrics make comparative outcomes research difficult in the pediatric sports population [19].
  • High-quality systematic reviews on measurement instruments are advocated to recommend the best available outcome measurement instrument [20].
  • Few outcome measurement tools have been used routinely at the point of care despite being developed over the past 30 years [21].
  • Further studies are needed to provide validated outcome measures to ensure the accuracy of reported results and conclusions after rib fracture [22].
  • Comparative effectiveness research requires accurate assessments of patient numbers, follow-up completeness, clinical outcomes, and care settings [34].
  • Recommendations for the selection of patient-assessed measures of health outcome are needed [36].
  • Limiting follow-up to automated methods has the potential to transform the design and conduct of outcome-based research to provide substantially better research value in large prospective cohorts [38].
  • There are challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice [39].
  • The routine use of patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice is assessed for its impact on the process of care, patients' and professionals' experiences of care, and health outcomes [42].

Interpreting the Results

Measurement Properties and Reliability

  • Consensus was reached on deducing a comprehensive research question from the design of a reliability study to determine how results inform the quality of an outcome measurement instrument [2].
  • The two-way mixed-effect analysis of variance model with interaction for the absolute agreement between single scores is recommended for assessing test-retest reliability of patient-reported outcome measures [4].
  • Range of motion and strength are not as reliable measures as one would think [15].

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)

  • Clinicians must be cautious in accepting an MCID score at face value given the wide variability of established MCID scores available for a single outcome scale [5].
  • The recommended approach for estimating the minimal important difference is to use several anchor-based methods with relevant clinical or patient-based indicators, examine distribution-based estimates as supportive information, and triangulate on a single value or small range of values [9].
  • The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) is a point estimate that should always be reported with its associated 95% CI, as there is no basis for considering a sample-derived MCID a singular threshold to be crossed [12].
  • The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is an imperfect solution to a complicated problem, and different methods used to calculate MCID lead to highly heterogeneous values [13].
  • The minimal important difference (MID) is not an immutable characteristic but may vary by population and context, and no one MID may be valid for all study applications [14].
  • The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a low bar that patients do not seek when undergoing surgery; instead, they aim for substantial clinical benefit or a patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) [17].
  • The calculation of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) needs to be correlated with changes in scores on the rating scale and external anchors [24].
  • A systematic approach exists to triangulate on the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) using both distribution-based and anchor-based methods [29].

Reporting and Interpretation Frameworks

  • Outcomes assessed on numeric rating scales and reported with text-messages on mobile phones or with questionnaires completed with pen and paper provide comparable scores [7].
  • Investigators can choose thresholds to dichotomize responses on HRQL based on absolute scores or change scores to facilitate interpretation [10].
  • A standardized reporting of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has been proposed that incorporates the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), introducing a 'clinical relevance ratio' to report the proportion of patients achieving clinical importance rather than relying solely on mean changes [23].
  • Routine use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) has the potential to help transform healthcare [18].

Limitations and Pitfalls

Measurement Properties and Reliability

  • Lack of consensus in the literature has led to confusion about which measurement properties are relevant, which concepts they represent, and how to assess these properties in terms of design requirements and preferred statistical methods [16].
  • To assess test-retest reliability for patient-reported outcome measures, the two-way mixed-effect analysis of variance model with interaction for the absolute agreement between single scores is recommended [4].
  • Consensus was reached on how a comprehensive research question can be deduced from the design of a reliability study to determine how the results inform about the quality of the outcome measurement instrument [2].
  • A 10-item computerized adaptive test (CAT) eliminated floor and decreased ceiling effects, achieving a small standard error (≤ 2.2) across scores from 20 to 50 with reliability ≥ 0.95 for a representative US sample [31].

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)

  • The recommended approach is to estimate the minimal important difference based on several anchor-based methods with relevant clinical or patient-based indicators, examine various distribution-based estimates as supportive information, and triangulate on a single value or small range of values [9].
  • MCIDs expressed as effect sizes reduce bias, which mainly results from dependency on the baseline score [41].
  • Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare policy decision makers can consider using a specific instrument to evaluate the design, conduct, and analysis of studies estimating anchor based minimal important differences [30].

Data Collection and Standardization

  • The current data collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is neither uniform nor complete across the world's registries, which may impact data validity and the ability to compare outcomes [8].
  • The high variability in scale choice and the use of measures not validated in pediatrics make comparative outcomes research difficult [19].
  • Only 57% of primary medical providers are using patient reported outcome measures within their practice, with the information largely used for research rather than clinical decision-making [27].
  • Further studies are needed to provide validated outcome measures to ensure accuracy of the reported results and conclusions [22].

Clinical Application and Interpretation

  • The authors propose using the minimum clinically important difference, the standard error of measurement, and the minimum detectable change as indicators for the clinical interpretation of test scores [1].
  • Integrating standardized patient-reported outcomes into routine orthopaedic visits is feasible and improves practice efficiency by providing actionable objective data for shared decision-making [26].
  • The ability to collect patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in real time and share this information with patients to inform clinical decision making represents the future of value-based healthcare, moving beyond research-focused assessments to guide treatment consistent with patient preferences [25].
  • Promoting ownership and correct use of the measure by clinicians can potentially improve practice and the quality of care provided through patient-reported outcome measure data use in clinical decision-making [11].

Key Evidence

  • [L5] The authors propose using the minimum clinically important difference, the standard error of measurement, and the minimum detectable change as indicators for the clinical interpretation of test scores. [1] (10.1136/bjsports-2012-091704)
  • [Paper] Consensus was reached on how a comprehensive research question can be deduced from the design of a reliability study to determine how the results of a study inform us about the quality of the outcome measurement instrument at issue. [2] (10.1186/s12874-020-01179-5)
  • [L4] Standardized health-related outcome measures require evidence for change and a way to interpret change within individuals or difference between groups. [3] (10.1016/j.rdc.2018.01.011)
  • [L5] To assess test-retest reliability for patient-reported outcome measures, the two-way mixed-effect analysis of variance model with interaction for the absolute agreement between single scores is recommended. [4] (10.1007/s11136-018-2076-0)
  • [L5] Clinicians must be cautious in accepting an MCID score at face value given the wide variability of established MCID scores available for a single outcome scale. [5] (10.1179/2042618612y.0000000001)
  • [Paper] An appropriate and validated measure that is suitable for both the particular study population and the reason for collecting the PROMs data should be chosen. [6] (10.1136/bmj.c186)
  • [L4] Outcomes assessed on numeric rating scales and reported with text-messages on mobile phones or with questionnaires completed with pen and paper provide comparable scores. [7] (10.1186/1471-2288-14-52)
  • [L4] The current data collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is neither uniform nor complete across the world's registries, which may impact data validity and the ability to compare outcomes. [8] (10.1097/corr.0000000000001918)
  • [L5] The recommended approach is to estimate the minimal important difference based on several anchor-based methods, with relevant clinical or patient-based indicators, and to examine various distribution-based estimates (i.e., effect size, standardized response mean, standard error of measurement) as supportive information, and then to triangulate on a single value or small range of values for the MID. [9] (10.1186/1477-7525-4-70)
  • [L5] Investigators can choose thresholds to dichotomize responses on HRQL based on absolute scores or change scores to facilitate interpretation. [10] (10.1186/1477-7525-4-62)
  • [L2] This could promote ownership and correct use of the measure by clinicians, potentially improving practice and the quality of care provided through patient-reported outcome measure data use in clinical decision-making. [11] (10.1177/0269216313491619)
  • [L5] The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) is a point estimate that should always be reported with its associated 95% CI, as there is no basis for considering a sample-derived MCID a singular threshold to be crossed. [12] (10.1177/03635465231189223)
  • [L5] The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is an imperfect solution to a complicated problem, and different methods used to calculate MCID lead to highly heterogeneous values. [13] (10.1177/03635465231189222)
  • [L5] The minimal important difference (MID) is not an immutable characteristic but may vary by population and context, and no one MID may be valid for all study applications. [14] (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.03.012)
  • [Paper] Physical outcome measures are being changed for the use of patient reported outcomes, and range of motion and strength are not as reliable measures as one would think. [15] (10.1016/j.injury.2019.11.017)
  • [L5] Lack of consensus in the literature has lead to confusion about which measurement properties are relevant, which concepts they represent, and how to assess these measurement properties in terms of design requirements and preferred statistical methods. [16] (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.02.006)
  • [L5] The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a low bar that patients do not seek when undergoing surgery; instead, they aim for substantial clinical benefit or a patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). [17] (10.1016/j.arthro.2023.10.014)
  • [L5] Routine use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) has the potential to help transform healthcare. [18] (10.1136/bmj.f167)
  • [L4] The high variability in scale choice and the use of measures not validated in pediatrics make comparative outcomes research difficult. [19] (10.1177/2325967119s00036)
  • [L5] They advocate for conducting high quality systematic reviews on measurement instruments in which the best available outcome measurement instrument is recommended. [20] (10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0143)
  • [L5] Scores of tools to measure outcomes that matter to patients have been developed over the past 30 years but few are used routinely at the point of care. [21] (10.1136/bmj.g7818)
  • [L2] Further studies are needed to provide validated outcome measures to ensure accuracy of the reported results and conclusions. [22] (10.1016/j.injury.2019.07.002)
  • [L5] The authors propose a standardized reporting of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that incorporates the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), introducing a 'clinical relevance ratio' to report the proportion of patients achieving clinical importance rather than relying solely on mean changes. [23] (10.2106/jbjs.21.00030)
  • [L5] The calculation of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) needs to be correlated with changes in scores on the rating scale and external anchors. [24] (10.1177/03635465231193405)
  • [L5] The ability to collect patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in real time and share this information with patients to inform clinical decision making represents the future of value-based healthcare, moving beyond research-focused assessments to guide treatment consistent with patient preferences. [25] (10.1007/s11999-016-4813-4)
  • [L4] The authors conclude that integrating standardized patient-reported outcomes into routine orthopaedic visits is feasible and improves practice efficiency by providing actionable objective data for shared decision-making. [26] (10.1007/s11999-013-3143-z)
  • [L4] Only 57% of primary medical providers are using patient reported outcome measures within their practice, with the information largely used for research rather than clinical decision-making. [27] (10.1177/2325967119s00107)
  • [L5] The authors describe a systematic approach to triangulate on the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) using both distribution-based and anchor-based methods. [29] (10.1016/j.apmr.2019.12.008)
  • [L4] Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare policy decision makers can consider using this instrument to evaluate the design, conduct, and analysis of studies estimating anchor based minimal important differences. [30] (10.1136/bmj.m1714)
  • [L5] A 10-item CAT eliminated floor and decreased ceiling effects, achieving a small standard error (≤ 2.2) across scores from 20 to 50 with reliability ≥ 0.95 for a representative US sample. [31] (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.06.025)
  • [L1] However, all PROMs require further validation studies to fill the gaps in their measurement properties. [32] (10.1016/j.ejvs.2014.12.002)
  • [L4] The questionnaire was well understood by the respondents, and all scales met the required internal consistency criteria with Cronbach alpha coefficients equaling or exceeding 0.70. [33] (10.4103/0970-0218.106623)
  • [L5] Comparative effectiveness research requires accurate assessments of patient numbers, follow-up completeness, clinical outcomes, and care settings. [34] (10.1007/s11999-013-3194-1)
  • [L4] The assessment tool demonstrated construct validity by reliably discriminating between different levels of training, as senior trainees performed significantly better than junior trainees on the global rating scale. [35] (10.1016/j.rapm.2006.10.009)
  • [L4] Recommendations for the selection of patient assessed measures of health outcome are needed. [36] (10.1136/bmj.324.7351.1417)
  • [L2] Limiting follow-up to automated methods may have the potential to transform the way that outcome-based research is designed and conducted to provide substantially better research value in large prospective cohorts. [38] (10.2106/jbjs.19.00531)
  • [L5] However, there are a number of challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice. [39] (10.1007/s11136-008-9379-5)
  • [L2] No key measure was identified to capture functional status, with 15 different tools utilized, highlighting the need for greater standardization of outcome measurement in musculoskeletal clinical practice, service evaluation and research. [40] (10.1002/msc.1200)
  • [Paper] MCIDs expressed as effect sizes reduce bias, which mainly results from dependency on the baseline score. [41] (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.11.016)
  • [Paper] The objectives are to assess the impact of the routine use of patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice on the process of care, patients' and professionals' experiences of care, and health outcomes. [42] (10.1002/14651858.cd011589)
  • [L5] All item banks demonstrated good reliability across most of the score distributions. [43] (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.04.011)
  • [L4] Providing access to PROM scores without clearly understanding how and why surgeons may consider using them can result in expensive and underused systems that add little value. [44] (10.1097/corr.0000000000002059)
  • [L4] The reasons provided included a lack of knowledge on how to use PROMs and the perception that it is too time-consuming to add to regular clinical routine. [45] (10.1186/s13018-020-02135-1)
  • [Paper] The MCID defines the smallest amount an outcome must change to be meaningful to patients. [46] (10.1001/jama.2014.13128)
  • [L4] These limitations shed some light on why PROM use may not always improve patient outcomes and provide considerations for the design and implementation of future PROM initiatives. [47] (10.1007/s11136-021-03003-z)
  • [L5] This editorial argues that Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are critical for capturing the patient's perspective on health status, which cannot be observed through clinical tests or imaging. [48] (10.1136/bjsports-2014-093707)
  • [L4] PROMIS measures are efficient and precise tools, and their use is expected to continue to increase across medical and surgical specialties as health systems and payers expand their definition of healthcare quality to include patient-reported health outcomes. [49] (10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00432)

References

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[2] COSMIN Risk of Bias tool to assess the quality of studies on reliability or measurement error of outcome measurement instruments: a Delphi study. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-01179-5

[3] Minimal Clinically Important Difference. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2018.01.011

[4] Assessing test–retest reliability of patient-reported outcome measures using intraclass correlation coefficients: recommendations for selecting and documenting the analytical formula. Quality of Life Research. 2018. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-018-2076-0

[5] Clinimetrics corner: a closer look at the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2012. DOI: 10.1179/2042618612y.0000000001

[6] The routine use of patient reported outcome measures in healthcare settings. BMJ. 2010. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c186

[7] Collection of patient-reported outcomes; - text messages on mobile phones provide valid scores and high response rates. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2014. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-14-52

[8] CORR Insights®: Collection and Reporting of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Arthroplasty Registries: Multinational Survey and Recommendations. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2021. DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000001918

[9] Responsiveness and minimal important differences for patient reported outcomes. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2006. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-4-70

[10] Interpreting the results of patient reported outcome measures in clinical trials: The clinician's perspective. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2006. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-4-62

[11] Implementing patient-reported outcome measures in palliative care clinical practice: A systematic review of facilitators and barriers. Palliative Medicine. 2013. DOI: 10.1177/0269216313491619

[12] The Minimal Clinically Important Difference: Letter to the Editor. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231189223

[13] The Minimal Clinically Important Difference: Response. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231189222

[14] Recommended methods for determining responsiveness and minimally important differences for patient-reported outcomes. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.03.012

[15] Physical outcome measures: The role of strength and range of motion in orthopaedic research. Injury. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2019.11.017

[16] The COSMIN study reached international consensus on taxonomy, terminology, and definitions of measurement properties for health-related patient-reported outcomes. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.02.006

[17] Editorial Commentary : The Minimal Clinically Important Difference Is Less Important Than It Sounds: Patients Seek to Achieve Substantial Clinical Benefits and Not Minimally Perceptible Improvements When They Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery. Arthroscopy. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.10.014

[18] Patient reported outcome measures could help transform healthcare. BMJ. 2013. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f167

[19] THE USE OF PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES BY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN THE PEDIATRIC SPORTS POPULATION. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2325967119s00036

[20] The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) and how to select an outcome measurement instrument. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy. 2016. DOI: 10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0143

[21] Patient reported outcome measures in practice. BMJ. 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g7818

[22] Assessing outcome measures used after rib fracture: A COSMIN systematic review. Injury. 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2019.07.002

[23] A Call for a Standardized Approach to Reporting Patient-Reported Outcome Measures. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2021. DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.21.00030

[24] The Minimal Clinically Important Difference Changes Greatly Based on the Different Calculation Methods: Letter to the Editor. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231193405

[25] Value-based Healthcare: Patient-reported Outcomes in Clinical Decision Making. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-016-4813-4

[26] Integrating Patient-reported Outcomes Into Orthopaedic Clinical Practice: Proof of Concept From FORCE-TJR. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2013. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-013-3143-z

[27] THE USE OF PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES BY PRIMARY MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN THE PEDIATRIC SPORTS POPULATION. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2325967119s00107

[29] A Standard Method for Determining the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for Rehabilitation Measures. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.12.008

[30] Evaluating the credibility of anchor based estimates of minimal important differences for patient reported outcomes: instrument development and reliability study. BMJ. 2020. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m1714

[31] Evaluation of a preliminary physical function item bank supported the expected advantages of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.06.025

[32] Assessing the Quality of Available Patient Reported Outcome Measures for Intermittent Claudication: A Systematic Review Using the COSMIN Checklist. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2014.12.002

[33] Validity and reliability of MOS short form health survey (SF-36) for use in India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 2013. DOI: 10.4103/0970-0218.106623

[34] Challenges in Outcome Measurement: Clinical Research Perspective. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2013. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-013-3194-1

[35] An Assessment Tool for Brachial Plexus Regional Anesthesia Performance: Establishing Construct Validity and Reliability. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. 2007. DOI: 10.1016/j.rapm.2006.10.009

[36] Quality of life measurement: bibliographic study of patient assessed health outcome measures. BMJ. 2002. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.324.7351.1417

[38] Value in Research: Achieving Validated Outcome Measurements While Mitigating Follow-up Cost. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2019. DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.19.00531

[39] Prospects and challenges in using patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice. Quality of Life Research. 2008. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-008-9379-5

[40] Patient‐reported outcome measures in advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice: a systematic review. Musculoskeletal Care. 2017. DOI: 10.1002/msc.1200

[41] The minimal clinically important difference raised the significance of outcome effects above the statistical level, with methodological implications for future studies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.11.016

[42] Routine provision of information on patient-reported outcome measures to healthcare providers and patients in clinical practice. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011589

[43] The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) developed and tested its first wave of adult self-reported health outcome item banks: 2005–2008. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.04.011

[44] What Do Orthopaedists Believe is Needed for Incorporating Patient-reported Outcome Measures into Clinical Care? A Qualitative Study. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 2021. DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000002059

[45] Use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) by orthopedic surgeons in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-02135-1

[46] Minimal Clinically Important Difference. JAMA. 2014. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.13128

[47] Perceived benefits and limitations of using patient-reported outcome measures in clinical practice with individual patients: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Quality of Life Research. 2021. DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-03003-z

[48] Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) have arrived in sports and exercise medicine: Why do they matter?. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093707

[49] Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Measures in Orthopaedic Specialties: Results of a Scoping Review for 2018 to 2022. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2025. DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00432

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