PTH 560: Standardized Measurement and Evidence-Based Practice

Vocabulary flashcards covering core EBP concepts, measurement properties, and required standardized physical therapy outcome measures.

Evidence-Based PT Practice

Open and thoughtful clinical decision making about physical therapy management of a patient that integrates the best possible evidence with clinical judgment and patient preferences and values, considering the larger social context to optimize patient outcomes and quality of life.

Operational Definitions

A set of procedures that guide the process of taking a measurement in standardized clinical practice.

Cut-Off Score

A specific threshold score that designates a positive or negative test outcome, used to classify individuals into distinct groups (such as identifying fall risk).

Sensitivity (in Outcome Measurement)

The ability of a measurement tool or test to measure any change in a patient condition.

Responsiveness

The ability of a measurement tool to detect clinically meaningful or important changes in a patient's status over time.

Minimal Detectable Change (MDC)

The smallest amount of difference or change that a measurement instrument can reliably measure beyond measurement error.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)

The smallest amount of change in an outcome score that is considered functionally important or clinically meaningful to the patient.

Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

A self-reported outcome measure in which patients rate their balance confidence from 0% (no confidence) to 100% (complete confidence) across 16 functional daily tasks.

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

A timed functional mobility test where a patient stands from a chair, walks 10 feet, turns around, walks 10 feet back, and sits down. A score of $>14\,sec$ indicates fall risk for community ambulators.

TUG (Cognitive)

A dual-task variation of the Timed Up and Go test in which the patient completes the physical walking sequence while simultaneously counting backwards by 3s from a randomly selected number between 20 and 100.

TUG (Manual)

A dual-task variation of the Timed Up and Go test in which the patient completes the physical walking sequence while carrying a cup filled with water.

10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)

A test measuring walking speed over a set 10-meter distance, excluding acceleration and deceleration zones, calculated as $\text{Gait Speed} = \frac{\text{distance (m)}}{\text{time (sec)}}$

6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

A standardized submaximal exercise test used to measure functional endurance and walking capacity by recording total distance walked, rest breaks, pulse, and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) over 6 minutes.

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

A 14-item objective performance measure assessing static and dynamic balance in adults, scored from 0 to 56 points, where a score of 45/56 is the cut-off for independent safe ambulation.

MOS 20-Item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF 20)

A patient-reported survey assessing health-related quality of life over the preceding 4 weeks across 6 subscales: Physical Functioning, Pain, Role Functioning, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and Health Perception.