Putting outcome measurement in context: A rehabilitation psychology perspective.

This article provides an overview of topics related to health care measurement as applied to medical rehabilitation. Described are conceptual models of health outcome measurement in rehabilitation and their utility for researchers and clinicians, the application of contemporary measurement approaches to rehabilitation outcome measurement, and accrediting organizations’ efforts to implement performance indicators for rehabilitation. The discussion situates participation as a key interest of rehabilitation psychologists and other stakeholders. Reviewed are examples of instruments designed to operationalize participation, advances in measurement theory, and methods that allow outcome indicators to be measured more accurately and easily, including item response theory. This introduction concludes by considering how public disclosure of outcomes can help consumers make more informed choices and help accrediting organizations’ efforts to promote outcome disclosure. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of key components of health care quality measurement that guide ways of discussing and improving outcomes. The article also describes conceptual models of outcomes in rehabilitation and their utility for researchers and clinicians, situates participation as a key outcome for rehabilitation psychologists, describes the application of contemporary measurement approaches to rehabilitation outcome measurement, and discusses accrediting organizations’ efforts to implement performance indicators for rehabilitation.