Article

The ever-growing number of participation measures without consensus on which is
best makes it difficult to determine which measure to use in rehabilitation
research and clinical trials. In an effort to address issues affecting the
selection of a participation measure for a specific research purpose, this
article (1) outlines the types and characteristics of participation measures, (2)
enumerates various uses of participation measures in disability and
rehabilitation research, (3) discusses appropriate matching of the type of
participation measure with the research task, and (4) offers recommendations for
future participation research. Participation instruments vary in terms of their
degree of participation specificity, the conceptual model that underlies their
development, whether they include multiple domains or take a more global
approach, the extent to which they are objective versus subjective, whether they
use general population norms, who is the respondent, the method of item and scale
development, and their psychometric properties. Participation measures are used
in individual and population assessments, observational research, and
interventional research. Selection of a participation measure for use in a
specific study requires an understanding of the characteristics of available
tools and the nature of the research design, but most importantly, it requires
matching the instrument to the specific research question or hypothesis.
Instruments assessing participation are currently appropriate as secondary
outcomes in trials evaluating interventions targeting activity limitation, and
they will become appropriate as primary outcomes when interventions are tested
that target participation directly. It will be easier to apply participation
measures appropriately to their many research uses once substantial progress is
made in obtaining better participation measurements and consensus is reached
about the best tools.
CI - Copyright 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS