Developing Measures
Measures can be found in a variety of places. The best measures are ones that are validated. They are proven to measure what they claim across populations. While it is possible to create new measures, the process is time intensive and will likely require expertise in survey research, qualitative methods, or data analysis. Many of the other guides and toolkits in the Online Resources section also contain potential measures.
When choosing measures, the source of that data — clients, CHWs, administrative systems —is extremely critical. Using administrative data can allow for lots of information to be gathered but special skills might be needed to build reports or summarize the information. Clients can be invaluable sources of information but asking too many questions may cause fatigue and annoyance. This is particularly true when clients are nearing the end of the program.
The tables below gives some sample measures that were used in a particular CHW program focused on social determinants of health.
HOW TO: CHOOSE OUTCOMES MEASURES
- Choose perspective(s) for measurement.
- List topic areas by perspective.
- Find measures for different topic areas.
- Check for overlap.
- Drop repetitive measures.
- Refine the list by dropping measures that are less important.
- Assess whether comparison data can be obtained for any of the measures.
Table 3. Potential Measures and Sources
HEALTH STATUS
Would you say that in general your health is . . .1
Answers: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor
Now thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?1
Answer: Number of Days _____
Now thinking about your physical health, which includes illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your health not good?1
Answer: Number of Days _____
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
How satisfied are you with your health?2
Answers: Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied, Dissatisfied, Very Dissatisfied
When I am confronted with a health problem, I can usually find a solution.3
Answers: Not true at all, Hardly True, Moderately True, Exactly True
When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions.3
Answers: Not true at all, Hardly True, Moderately True, Exactly True
I am motivated to be healthy.
Answers: Not true at all, Hardly True, Moderately True, Exactly True
RECENT HEALTH CARE VISITS
During the past 3 months, did you visit a hospital emergency room for your own health?4
Answers: Yes, No, Refused, Don’t Know
(If yes) How many times? ______
During the past 12 months, how many times have you gone to a hospital emergency room about your own health (This includes emergency room visits that resulted in a hospital admission)?4
Answers: None, 1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16 or more, Refused, Don’t Know
(If yes) Did this emergency room visit result in a hospital admission?
Answers: Yes, No, Refused, Don’t Know
During the past 3 months, were you a patient in a hospital overnight or longer?5
Answers: Yes, No, Refused, Don’t Know
(If yes) How many times? ______
During the past 12 months, were you a patient in a hospital overnight or longer?5
Answers: Yes, No, Refused, Don’t Know
During the past 12 months, when you were hospitalized for any reason, altogether how many nights were you in the hospital?5
Answers: ______Number of nights, Refused, Don’t Know