Outcome evaluation and risk screening tools

What is a risk screening tool?

A risk screening tool can help identify workers at risk of long term disability, development of persistent pain and failure to return to work.

What is an outcome measure tool?

An 'outcome' is a change in a patient characteristic as a consequence of a health intervention or treatment. An 'outcome measure' is a test or scale that has been shown to measure a patient characteristic of interest – such as level of impairment (ie, pain) or functioning (ie, disability, incapacity or distress). Outcome measures are used to evaluate change from one point in time (usually before treatment) to another (usually after treatment).

A 'standardised' outcome measure is a tool that has undergone testing to establish its validity, reliability and sensitivity to change. Reliability is the extent to which an experiment, test or any measuring procedure yields no difference in results of repeated trials ^[1]. Validity is the extent to which an experiment, test or any measuring procedure measures what it is intended to measure ^[1].

Outcome measures and risk screening tools are increasingly being used by health professionals to facilitate injury recovery, as they:

• are proven best evidence medicine
• assist timeliness of recovery
• assist with multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary communication.

Advantages of outcome measures and risk screening tools

Outcome and risk screening measures have a number of advantages in the general practice setting:

• They are a useful addition to a comprehensive assessment.
• They can be used as a brief screen to identify issues that require review, risk factors for the development of a chronic injury or other health sequale, and barriers to recovery.
• Outcome measures can be used to evaluate treatment effectiveness, and inform clinical decisions about continuing, changing or ceasing treatment.
• They can assist in communicating with case managers and/or rehabilitation providers to assist with required services.
• All health professionals involved in treatment can observe and understand the progress of the condition.
• Standardised outcome measures can be useful for assessment and report writing.