Robyn Sierla1,2, Elizabeth Sian Dylke3, Sharon Kilbreath4. 1. a Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Sydney , Sydeny , Australia. 2. b Occupational Therapy Department , Royal Prince Alfred Hospital , Sydney , Australia. 3. c Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia. 4. d Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To ascertain how change in upper body lymphedema is assessed and understand how clinically significant change is determined. METHOD: A systematic search of the literature resulted in 55 eligible studies for analysis. RESULTS: A range of assessment methods, measurement protocols, and outcomes were used in the literature. Of the 21 studies in which thresholds for change were set a priori, 20 different thresholds were reported. CONCLUSION: How data was measured, analysed and reported was inconsistent across studies. Consensus on a core outcome set with standardised assessment protocols and reporting; and investigation into empirically based minimum important differences (MID) is needed.
PURPOSE: To ascertain how change in upper body lymphedema is assessed and understand how clinically significant change is determined. METHOD: A systematic search of the literature resulted in 55 eligible studies for analysis. RESULTS: A range of assessment methods, measurement protocols, and outcomes were used in the literature. Of the 21 studies in which thresholds for change were set a priori, 20 different thresholds were reported. CONCLUSION: How data was measured, analysed and reported was inconsistent across studies. Consensus on a core outcome set with standardised assessment protocols and reporting; and investigation into empirically based minimum important differences (MID) is needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast Cancers; Outcomes Research; Supportive care & Symptom control