These can be assessed in terms of mortality, morbidity, physiological measures and, increasing, more subjective patient-based assessments of health. An outcome is a natural or artificially designed point in the care of an individual or population suitable for assessing the effect of an intervention, or lack of intervention, on the natural history of a condition. Outcome is a relative value. It is a measure of change, the end point is compared with the situation at the start of the study period. A health outcome is a result of any health intervention.
Health indicators are measures of outcomes.
Outcomes may apply to individuals, populations or workers. The former is concerned with description and the latter is concerned with the subjective perception of the impact that changes in health have on quality of life. A measure of the results of health activation, health education and health promotion. The dictionary definition of outcome is 'result or visible effect'. To be concerned with outcomes is simply to be concerned with the causal relationships between antecedent and subsequent conditions or events.