Utilization of outcome measures for evidence-based clinical practice

Abstract

It is important to evaluate the effect of intervention for practice of evidence-based rehabilitation. Selecting the most appropriate outcome measure helps clinicians make better clinical decision. We introduce 6 main factors (subject of measurement, purpose of measurement, type of measurement, measurement scale and psychometric properties, factor of the subject, spatial, temporal and physical factor) that should be considered when selecting the most appropriate outcome measure in clinical practice and provide the useful information such as standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change. Furthermore, we introduce the utilization of the Functional reach test, 10m maximum walking speed and stroke physical performance scale. They often become a target to assess physical performance in rehabilitation.