New COSMIN guidance for researchers to help improve the selection of measurement instruments

Wieneke Mokkink, Ellen B. M. Elsman, Guilherme Tavares de Arruda, Leticia Amaral Correa, Kim van der Braak, Rachel L. Chambers, Petter Gustavsson, Caroline B. Terwee

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Aims: Systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are important tools to select the most suitable PROM for a study or clinical application. Conducting these reviews is challenging, and the quality of these reviews needs to be improved. We updated the COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews of PROMs, and we are building an international COSMIN Community aiming to connect researchers and teachers in this field.

Methods: Adaptations to the methodology were made based on our experience with applying the COSMIN guideline, through discussions among the authors, results from two related Delphi studies, and results from a review on the quality of systematic reviews of measurement instruments. An infrastructure for an international COSMIN Community is being established, and online network meetings (Clubs) are being prepared.

Results: The updated guideline (COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews of PROMs version 2.0) places more emphasis on key aspects that are often missing or sub optimally applied in published systematic reviews of PROMs, such as formulating a well-defined research question and developing a comprehensive search strategy, assessing risk of bias (COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist version 3.0), applying criteria for good measurement properties (version 2.0), summarizing results, and grading the quality of the evidence. An animated video was created to explain the process of conducting such a review. Club
meetings are planned for the Portuguese Club (GEProM), the COSMIN International Researchers Club, and the Dutch COSMIN Onderzoekers Club to connect researchers, and facilitate informative and thought-provoking discussions e.g. based on presentations of ongoing studies conducted by club members.

Conclusion: The updated guidelines will lead to the selection of more high-quality measurement instruments, and help improve the quality of research.
Researchers interested in evaluating and improving the quality of measurement instruments can benefit from the new guidelines and by joining the COSMIN Community.
Original languageEnglish
Article number109
Pages (from-to)S35-S36
Number of pages2
JournalQuality of Life Research
Volume33
Issue number1 Supplement
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2024
Event31st Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Research 2024 - Cologne, Germany
Duration: 13 Oct 202416 Oct 2024

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