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IntroductionThis is the last in a series of three papers reviewing 69 patient-based outcome measures that have been developed specifically for use in older people, or that have been administered to populations that include older people. The previous papers described how the measures were identified, and provided brief descriptions of measures of general health status and quality of life, instruments assessing mental status, measures of depression, and measures of psychological wellbeing. In this paper we describe six pain measures, 12 measures of physical disability and handicap, and eight measures of social health (see Tables 1–3). References in the text which include a copy of the questionnaire are marked with a # sign. Otherwise, a copy can be obtained from the address provided. It is recommended, however, before using any of the questionnaires to contact the authors to obtain permission to use them.

This is the second in a series of three papers reviewing 69 patient-based outcome measures that have been developed specifically for use with older people, or that have been administered to populations that include older people. The first paper described how the measures were identified, and provided a brief description of 17 measures of general health status and quality of life. This paper reviews nine measures of mental status and cognitive function, 10 measures of depression and anxiety, and seven psychological wellbeing measures (see Tables 1-3).

IntroductionThe methodology of quality of life measurement has developed markedly in the last few years. Clinicians and researchers have increasingly acknowledged that the burden of illness can not be described only in terms of disease status. Measurement of psychosocial factors such as pain, restricted mobility, difficulties fulfilling family or work responsibilities, and psychological wellbeing provides a far more comprehensive and meaningful assessment of the impact of disease on the patient’s life. Similarly, such patient-based measures are increasingly replacing traditional clinical or disease indicators as the primary measures of outcome in clinical trials.