Thus the distribution method can only be used to calculate an absolute MCID as there is no st and ard deviation of baseline score for a relative measure .
The anchor-based method relates the change in
To the Editor : The same patient outcome data from clinical trial results , when presented as absolute or relative changes , may appear different in magnitude .
Recommendations are to report both absolute and relative , or at least baseline , data from which to calculate absolute values [ 1 , 2 ] .
To inform clinical practice , outcome improvements , whether relative or absolute , must be statistically significant and clinical ly meaningful .
A minimal clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) should inform sample size calculations for clinical trials .
Once-daily opioids for chronic dyspnea: a dose increment and pharmacovigilance study.
CONTEXT R and omized controlled trials can answer questions of efficacy , but long-term pharmacovigilance studies generate complementary safety data . OBJECTIVES Level I evidence supports short-term efficacy of opioids in reducing  chronic refractory dyspnea .  This study aim ed to determine the minimum effective once-daily dose of sustained-release morphine , and whether net clinical benefits are sustained safely . METHODS In a Phase II dose increment study , 10 mg daily of sustained-release morphine was administered , and increased in nonresponders by 10 mg daily each week to a maximum of 30 mg daily . The participant was withdrawn if there were unacceptable side effects or no response to maximum dose . If participants had a 10 % improvement in dyspnea over their own baseline , they joined a long-term Phase IV effectiveness/safety study at that dose . Complying with Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology ( STROBE ) guidelines , response and side effects are described , with demographic and clinical characteristics of responders . RESULTS Eighty-three participants ( 53 males , mean age 75 years , 54 % with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ) provided more than 30 patient-years of data . Fifty-two participants derived ≥ 10 % benefit ( on average 35 % improvement over baseline ) , giving a response rate of 62 % ( number needed to treat of 1.6 : number needed to harm 4.6 ) ; for 70 % , this dose was 10mg/24h . Benefit was maintained at three months for 28 ( 33 % ) people . Ranking of breathlessness was reduced significantly ( P<0.001 ) , but constipation increased ( P<0.001 ) despite laxatives . There were no episodes of respiratory depression or hospitalizations as a result of the sustained-release morphine . Overall , one in three people continued to derive benefit at three months . CONCLUSION Ten milligrams of sustained-release oral morphine once daily is safe and effective for most people who respond
Thus the distribution method can only be used to calculate an absolute MCID as there is no st and ard deviation of baseline score for a relative measure .
The anchor-based method relates the change in
To the Editor : The same patient outcome data from clinical trial results , when presented as absolute or relative changes , may appear different in magnitude .
Recommendations are to report both absolute and relative , or at least baseline , data from which to calculate absolute values [ 1 , 2 ] .
To inform clinical practice , outcome improvements , whether relative or absolute , must be statistically significant and clinical ly meaningful .
A minimal clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) should inform sample size calculations for clinical trials .