OBJECTIVE: To compare signal versus aggregate measurement strategies using the VA3.0S version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis (OA) Index. METHODS:Seventy patients with OA of the knee were asked to identify a signal item for each of the 3 dimensions of the WOMAC OA Index at baseline and termination of a 12-week, double blind, randomized, controlled trial. RESULTS: The signal method detected statistically significant alterations in health status at relatively small sample sizes and with a relative efficiency close to or at unity. In addition to a low prevalence of deterioration in nonsignal items, we observed some inconsistency in signal selection. CONCLUSION: Signal methods of measurement may provide an alternative approach to outcome measurement provided issues of nonsignal deterioration and the consistency of signal selection can be addressed.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare signal versus aggregate measurement strategies using the VA3.0S version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis (OA) Index. METHODS: Seventy patients with OA of the knee were asked to identify a signal item for each of the 3 dimensions of the WOMAC OA Index at baseline and termination of a 12-week, double blind, randomized, controlled trial. RESULTS: The signal method detected statistically significant alterations in health status at relatively small sample sizes and with a relative efficiency close to or at unity. In addition to a low prevalence of deterioration in nonsignal items, we observed some inconsistency in signal selection. CONCLUSION: Signal methods of measurement may provide an alternative approach to outcome measurement provided issues of nonsignal deterioration and the consistency of signal selection can be addressed.
Authors: M G Rabbani; S A Haq; N Bellamy; M N Islam; M R Choudhury; A Naheed; S Ahmed; A Shahin Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2014-12-16 Impact factor: 2.631