Terminology Commonly Used in Clinical Rehab Research
As
engineers, we tend to have a high comfort level with sensor-based measurement.
But we must recognize that most rehab research is not founded
in sensor-based measurements
of
the
type
that engineers
are
used
to. For
better or worse, the foundation for most clinical rehabilitation research
is the use of ordinal scores (e.g., 0-3, 1-5) that are completed by a trained
observer (e.g., research therapist) or self-reporting.
To
understand clinical rehabilitation research, you should
know the following clinical research assessment terms that are commonly
used
in
relation to
the use
of scoring
instruments:
validity: Extent
to which a measure actually measures what it is intended to, i.e. the degree
to which evidence supports the inferences that are made from a score. Types
include
content (are
all relevant concepts or items within the domain of interest represented?),
criterion (is
it consistent with "gold standard"?),
predictive (does
it predict important events in the future, e.g. clinical outcome?),
concurrent (does
it correlate with events occurring at the time, or other scales?);
ecological (is
it meaningful or useful in the person's real life, outside of the clinical
setting?).
reliability: The
extent to which a score or measure is free of random error or noise, i.e.
the degree to which an instrument is consistent, reproducible (e.g., test-retest),
and repeatable when administered by appropriately trained individuals.
- internal consistency (measure same concept or factor?)
- Test-retest intrarater
- Interrater consistency
- Related technology measurement considerations:
- quality of signal (measure what it intends to measure?)
- signal to noise ratio (random white noise?)
- role of user(s) in signal measurement (source of error?)
bias: Systematic
error in a measure, usually associated with subjective self-reporting or
stakeholder-reporting, or attitudinal measures.
sensitivity: Ability
of measure(s) to detect true
cases, to discriminate between meaningful differences, and to indicate changes in
the true attribute being measured.
Additional terminology is provided in the following tables:
P. Rehabilitation
Research Terms |
Assessment |
An
evaluation of a patient based on the following information: 1.
The subjective report of the symptoms by the patient. 2. The
progress of the illness or condition. 3. The objective findings of
the examiner based on tests, physical examination and medical history. |
Control
group |
A
group of subjects in a research study to which results of an experimental
treatment given to another group of subjects are compared. |
Epidemiology |
The
study of factors that influence the frequency and distribution of
a disease in a population. |
Experimental
group |
The
group of subjects in a research study which receives the experimental
treatment. |
Experimental
study |
A
study in which one treatment is compared to another. |
Handicapped |
A
person who has a congenital or acquired mental or physical defect
that interferes with normal functioning of the body, or the ability
to be self sufficient in modern society. |
Impairment |
A
deficiency that interferes with normal activity. |
Incidence |
The
frequency of occurrence of new cases of a disease over a specified
period of time. |
Informed
Consent |
A patient's
right to know the risks and benefits of a medical procedure. |
Meta-analysis |
A
technique for combining the results of several studies for the purpose
of determining the net effects of related factors or treatments on
a process or disease. |
Multivariate
analysis |
A
set of statistical techniques for analyzing the individual and joint
effects of a number of factors on the outcomes of the process or
disease being studied. |
Observational
study |
A
study that draws conclusions on the effects of factors or treatments
by observing a group of subjects over a period of time. |
Prospective
study |
A
study that depends on data collected prospectively from the time
the study begins. |
Psychometric
Instrument |
Standardized
tests (utilizing paper and pencil) which measure mental functioning. |
Randomized
controlled trial (RCT) |
A
study in which subjects are assigned to the experimental or control
group by a random selection procedure before data collection begins. |
Reliability,
interobserver |
A
characteristic of assessment procedures or instruments that refers
to the ability of different observers to obtain the same results
in the same patient, provided that there has been no change in the
patient's condition. |
Reliability,
test- retest |
A
characteristic of assessment procedures or instruments that refers
to the ability to obtain the same result at different points in time
in a patient whose condition remains unchanged. |
Retrospective
study |
A
study that depends on data collected earlier, usually for purposes
unrelated to the study. |
Risk
factor |
A
characteristic of the individual or environment that predisposes
to the condition or disease of interest. |
Sensibility |
The
characteristics of an assessment procedure or instrument that refer
to its reasonableness, importance, and ease of use. |
Sensitivity |
The
ability of an assessment procedure or instrument to detect clinically
meaningful change. |
O.
Disability
Terminology |
Activities
of daily living (ADL); DLS (Daily Living Skills) |
Basic activities of
daily living. Routine activities carried out for personal hygiene and
health such as eating, dressing, grooming, shaving, etc. Sometimes
called DLS or daily living skills. |
Deficit |
Loss
of ability. In the case of a stroke, a loss of neurological
function. |
Diagnosis |
Determining
the exact nature of a specific disease. |
Disability |
Reduced
ability or lack of ability of an individual to perform an activity in
daily life. A
loss, absence or impairment of physical or mental fitness that can be seen
or measured. |
Environment |
All
of the things mental and physical that affect a person's life and
survival. |
Functional
limitation |
Reduced
ability or lack of ability to perform an action or activity in the manner
or within the range considered to be normal. |
Handicap |
A
disadvantage resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or
prevents fulfillment of a role that is normal for the affected
individual. |
Impairment |
The
loss or abnormality of physical or psychological capacities. |
Independent |
Able
to perform all usual functions without assistance or supervision. |
Instrumental
activities of daily living (IADL) |
Complex
activities required for independent living, such as using a telephone,
home management, cooking, use of public transportation, or financial
management. |
Monitoring |
Repetitive
checking of a patient's medical, neurological, and functional
status. |
Pathogenic |
Causing
disease or disorder. |
Pathology |
The
interruption of, or interference with, normal bodily processes or
structures by a disease process. |
Rehabilitation |
Restoration
of the disabled person to self-sufficiency or maximal possible functional
independence. |
Screening |
Examinations
aimed at detecting medical conditions early in their course or before they
become symptomatic, often with the purpose of implementing treatment that
will prevent or ameliorate the problem. |
P. Rehabilitation Research
Terms |
Assessment |
An
evaluation of a patient based on the following information: 1.
The subjective report of the symptoms by the patient. 2. The
progress of the illness or condition. 3. The objective findings of the
examiner based on tests, physical examination and medical history. |
Control
group |
A
group of subjects in a research study to which results of an experimental
treatment given to another group of subjects are compared. |
Epidemiology |
The
study of factors that influence the frequency and distribution of a
disease in a population. |
Experimental
group |
The
group of subjects in a research study which receives the experimental
treatment. |
Experimental
study |
A
study in which one treatment is compared to another. |
Handicapped |
A
person who has a congenital or acquired mental or physical defect that
interferes with normal functioning of the body, or the ability to be self
sufficient in modern society. |
Impairment |
A
deficiency that interferes with normal activity. |
Incidence |
The
frequency of occurrence of new cases of a disease over a specified period
of time. |
Informed
Consent |
A
patient's right to know the risks and benefits of a medical procedure. |
Meta-analysis |
A
technique for combining the results of several studies for the purpose of
determining the net effects of related factors or treatments on a process
or disease. |
Multivariate
analysis |
A
set of statistical techniques for analyzing the individual and joint
effects of a number of factors on the outcomes of the process or disease
being studied. |
Observational
study |
A
study that draws conclusions on the effects of factors or treatments by
observing a group of subjects over a period of time. |
Prospective
study |
A
study that depends on data collected prospectively from the time the study
begins. |
Psychometric
Instrument |
Standardized
tests (utilizing paper and pencil) which measure mental functioning. |
Randomized
controlled trial (RCT) |
A
study in which subjects are assigned to the experimental or control group
by a random selection procedure before data collection begins. |
Reliability,
interobserver |
A
characteristic of assessment procedures or instruments that refers to the
ability of different observers to obtain the same results in the same
patient, provided that there has been no change in the patient's
condition. |
Reliability,
test- retest |
A
characteristic of assessment procedures or instruments that refers to the
ability to obtain the same result at different points in time in a patient
whose condition remains unchanged. |
Retrospective
study |
A
study that depends on data collected earlier, usually for purposes
unrelated to the study. |
Risk
factor |
A
characteristic of the individual or environment that predisposes to the
condition or disease of interest. |
Sensibility |
The
characteristics of an assessment procedure or instrument that refer to its
reasonableness, importance, and ease of use. |
Sensitivity |
The
ability of an assessment procedure or instrument to detect clinically
meaningful change. |
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