Lecture 29: Measuring Patients’ Experience Flashcards
Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO)
In certain cases, measuring health related quality of life is more appropriate than dichotomous outcomes regarding morbidity & mortality
give some examples?
when are they used?
– E.g., Rheumatoid arthritis (pain, function)
– E.g., Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (symptoms, function)
– E.g., Migraine (pain)
– E.g., Depression (mood)
– When the goal is to improve how people are feeling
– When life prolonging treatments lead to deterioration of HRQOL (e.g.,
cancer chemotherapy)
– When the relationship between lab measurements and HRQOL is
uncertain
2 types of Instruments Used to Measure Patient Reported Outcomes
generic
disease specific (see full list on slides)
what does St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for
COPD (SGRQ-C) measure?
- Measure of health status for patients with COPD
- 40 items
- Score range 0-100
- Higher scores indicate worse health status
what are 2 measures of central tendency?
– Mean
– Median
what are 3 measures of spread?
– Standard deviation
– Range
– Interquartile range
clinical trials involve measurement at _________ and then compare the mean differences
between groups.
baseline and after treatment
Clinical trials may involve measurement of a continuous
outcome and then compare the mean scores between groups.
– Ignore the baseline data and just compare the mean post measurements
– Analyse the mean change in measurement from baseline to follow-up to
account for the influence of the baseline measurement
– Analyse the mean change in scores at follow-up whilst accounting for
baseline scores (achieved using a regression model, i.e., ANCOVA)
see slides for NSAIDS ex
ok
Statistical vs. Clinical Significance
• If something is statistically significant, it has no relevance to the clinical significance
– Very small differences that are not clinically meaningful may be statistically significant
- Statistical significance only means the results were unlikely due to random error
- Statistical Significance ≠ Clinical Significance
why is it easier to show statistically significant differences in a continuous variable than a dichotomous one
Why?
– Continuous variables are measured more “finely”
– It is easier to show differences in intervention and control on a scale
that has many points in comparison to one with rougher categories
(i.e., fewer points)
2 ways to interpret the results when the Units are Not Self Evident?
– Anchor
– Distribution based approaches
Anchor Based Approach
explain
what is MCID?
The anchor is an independent standard that is itself
interpretable and correlated to the instrument being explored
• Establish MCID (minimum clinical important difference)
– Smallest difference in score that patients perceive as beneficial and
would mandate an change in patients management
what are typical anchors?
• Typical anchor: no change, small change, moderate change, large change.
What do you Think is a Clinically Meaningful Improvement in SGRQ-C?
responder analysis:
**RATHER THAN LOOKING AT AVG CHANGE B/W GROUPS WE CANT AKE PROPORTION OF PPL THAT HAVE 4 PT CHANGE AND DEPICT THOSE NUMBERS AND COMPAR THE RESPONDERS IN YES NO DICHOTOMOUS WAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A BENEFIT IN TREATMENT
Can talk about odds ratio, relative risk
Score Range (0 to 100) A. 1 point B. 5 points C. 10 points D. 20 points E. 50 points F. More than 50 points
Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)
• MCID = 4 points as compared with the score with placebo
Distribution Based Approach
Effect Size
• Aka Standardized Mean Difference
• Summary estimate of effect expressed in Standard Deviation units
Standardized Mean Difference SMD equation
SMD = Mean (intervention) – Mean (control)
_________________________
Standard Deviation of Scores Measured at Baseline
Interpretation:
