Minimal Important Difference Thresholds and the Standard Error of Measurement: Is There a Connection?

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Several recently published investigations have examined the relationship between the magnitude of the standard error of measurement (SEM) and established thresholds for a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) or a minimal important difference (MID) for change scores on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) or health status measures. These investigations, however, have resulted in differing SEM criteria for the MCID or MID. This study reviews and compares two sets of studies: (1) three investigations using a disease-specific HRQOL measure among patient samples with the chronic disease (heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or asthma) that have consistently demonstrated a 1 SEM correspondence with the established MCIDs or MIDs and (2) three investigations among patients referred to physical therapists with back, lower extremity, and neck pain showing that approximately 2.3 SEMs estimated the established MCID standards for three different measures of health status. Chronic ...