The authors of these papers reviewed the science base and provided recommendations on measures. Next, specific measures are recommended and ranked as either optimal or good. Optimal measures are usually more expensive, and many are outcome measures.
Good measures are usually measures that are currently accepted and more feasible for immediate use.
Health-related quality of life. The authors conclude that it is possible to identify valid and reliable measures for diabetes that can be used to measure quality of life, clinical outcomes, and essential processes. Some optimal measures may require effort and refinement but deserve serious appraisal. This Discussion Paper was written by Sheldon Greenfield, M.D., Sherrie Kaplan, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Sarah Purdy, M.B., B.S., M.P.H., of the Primary Care Outcomes Research Institute at New England Medical Center.