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Universal Health Outcome Measures for Older Persons with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04240.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , depression (economics) , patient reported outcomes measurement information system , health care , activities of daily living , gerontology , cognition , quality of life (healthcare) , affect (linguistics) , gait , mental health , disease , physical therapy , psychiatry , psychometrics , clinical psychology , nursing , computerized adaptive testing , psychology , communication , pathology , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Older adults with multiple chronic conditions ( MCC s) require considerable health services and complex care. Because the persistence and progression of diseases and courses of treatments affect health status in multiple dimensions, well‐validated universal outcome measures across diseases are needed for research, clinical care, and administrative purposes. An expert panel meeting held by the N ational I nstitute on A ging in S eptember 2011 recommends that older persons with MCC s complete a brief initial composite measure that includes general health; pain; fatigue; and physical health, mental health, and social role function, along with gait speed measurement. Suitable composite measures include the M edical O utcomes S tudy 8 ( SF ‐8) and 36 ( SF ‐36) ‐item Short‐Form Survey and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement I nformation S ystem 29‐item Health Profile. Based on responses to items in the initial measure, short follow‐on measures should be selectively targeted to symptom burden, depression, anxiety, and daily activities. Persons unable to walk a short distance to assess gait speed should be assessed using a physical function scale. Remaining gaps to be considered for measure development include disease burden, cognitive function, and caregiver burden. Routine outcome assessment of individuals with MCC s could facilitate system‐based care improvement and clinical effectiveness research.