Table 2 The differences in properties of between GAS compared to other and classical measurement instruments
Classical measurement instruments | Goal Attainment Scaling |
|---|---|
Items and scoring options are fixed | Items (goals) and scoring options (goal attainment levels) are different for each patient |
Instrument can be used for many patients in many settings | Patients make their own personalized instrument for one occasion together with their clinician |
Repeated measurements are possible, for example before and after an intervention, that can be compared | Only one measurement is possible, after an intervention or after a defined period of time |
The score is ‘anchored’, e.g. to a general population reference range, or to a cut-off score for a diagnosis, and is interpretable on individual level | The score is not ‘anchored’ and can only be interpreted as a comparison of group means in a randomized setting |
One or more unidimensional scales quantifying underlying constructs | Quantifies change due to an intervention (or over time) that is relevant to patients |