Measurement in Medicine
A Practical Guide

Provides methods to develop and evaluate measurement instruments in all fields of medicine and quality standards for all measurement properties.

Henrica C. W. de Vet (Author), Caroline B. Terwee (Author), Lidwine B. Mokkink (Author), Dirk L. Knol (Author)

9780521118200, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 August 2011

348 pages, 44 b/w illus. 60 tables 35 exercises
25.4 x 18 x 2.5 cm, 0.83 kg

'… the book covers such a broad range of topics, researchers at any stage of the scale development or assessment process can be expected to find some utility in the advice and excellent examples … As research on health measurement expands, we expect this book to serve as a helpful companion to the medical and health researcher.' Quality of Life Research

The success of the Apgar score demonstrates the astounding power of an appropriate clinical instrument. This down-to-earth book provides practical advice, underpinned by theoretical principles, on developing and evaluating measurement instruments in all fields of medicine. It equips you to choose the most appropriate instrument for specific purposes. The book covers measurement theories, methods and criteria for evaluating and selecting instruments. It provides methods to assess measurement properties, such as reliability, validity and responsiveness, and interpret the results. Worked examples and end-of-chapter assignments use real data and well-known instruments to build your skills at implementation and interpretation through hands-on analysis of real-life cases. All data and solutions are available online. This is a perfect course book for students and a perfect companion for professionals/researchers in the medical and health sciences who care about the quality and meaning of the measurements they perform.

1. Introduction
2. Concepts, theories and models, and types of measurements
3. The development of a measurement instrument
4. Field testing – item reduction and data structure
5. Reliability
6. Validity
7. Responsiveness
8. Interpretation
9. Systematic reviews of measurement properties
Index.

Subject Areas: Probability & statistics [PBT], Epidemiology & medical statistics [MBNS]