Paterson C, Britten N; International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Meeting.

Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet. 2002; 18: abstract no. 236.

Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, London, c.paterson@dial.pipex.com; nicky.britten@kcl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: MYMOP, Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile, is a brief patient-generated outcome questionnaire which aims to enable the patient to record and measure the outcomes which they consider the most important. The aim of these series of studies is to use quantitative and qualitative methods to validate the questionnaire for use in several different populations. METHODS: This paper describes a research programme in which MYMOP is being validated and compared the SF-36, EQ-5D and the COOP-WONCA charts. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, we have investigated its acceptability, responsiveness and validity in measuring outcome in patients of both general and complementary practitioners. RESULTS: We have developed a methodology which uses the analysis of qualitative interview data to provide a 'gold standard'. Two quantitative studies, in different patient groups, demonstrate high completion rates ( 93%) and responsiveness (responsiveness index of 0.85 and 0.7). In these studies MYMOP was more sensitive to change than the SF-36 and the EQ-5D. Two qualitative studies explored the treatment effects perceived by patients of complementary practitioners. Those who were consulting non-medical acupuncturists experienced three types of treatment effects: changes in symptoms; changes in energy, strength and relaxation; and changes in self awareness, self confidence and self responsibility. MYMOP, EQ-5D and COOP-WONCA varied in their ability to reflect and measure these different effects, and changes in self awareness and self responsibility were not detected by any of the questionnaires with any consistency. Medication reduction or avoidance was an important outcome for some patients and proved difficult to measure over time, despite modifications to MYMOP. DISCUSSION: Qualitative methods are valuable in the development of patient-centred outcome measures. Compared to other instruments, MYMOP is sensitive to change over time and enables people to measure many of the treatment effects that are important to them. It is especially useful in multidisciplinary teams, in mixed client groups, and in situations where a brief measure is required. However further work is required to develop a set of outcome measures capable of measuring the whole range of treatment effects that are valued by users of complementary medicine.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Complementary Therapies
• Evaluation Studies
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Questionnaires
• Reproducibility of Results
• Self Concept
• methods
• hsrmtgs

Other ID:

• GWHSR0003173

UI: 102274852

From Meeting Abstracts