Considerations in Choosing Outcome Measures

Over the years, a number of outcome measures have been used in orthopedic surgical trials to measure and compare treatment success. The objectives of research differ from the routine administration of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in clinical practice, and therefore require special consideration [1]. Modern outcome evaluation has paid more attention to patients’ perceptions of the treatment process, medical care, time of recovery, and return to prior level of activity [2–4]. This chapter will discuss considerations in choosing outcome measures, with a focus on patient-reported outcome measures, commonly used in surgical trials today.