The course ‘Clinimetrics’ (EPI4924) is scheduled during period two of the Master of Epidemiology. This 8-week course runs parallel with the courses ‘Writing a research question and outline proposal’ (EPI4930) and ‘Advanced Statistical Analysis Techniques’ (EPI4923).

Clinimetrics can be broadly defined as the science of (clinical) measurements. The field of clinimetrics is devoted to the development and assessment of measures of health-related phenomena in clinical practice and health research. As a methodological discipline focused on the concepts, quality and interpretation of measurements, it encompasses the various aspects and theories of health and exposure measurement. It is therefore of great importance within epidemiological research, which most often is focused on health or a health-related phenomenon as the main outcome (dependent) variable and a certain health determinant as the exposure (independent) variable of interest. 

Topics include:

•     concepts of health and functioning and various dimensions of these concepts;
•     types of measures and methods for health and exposure measurement;
•     steps in the development, testing, and evaluation of measures;
•     principles of measurement theory underpinning health and exposure measurement;
•     quality indicators of measures, including reliability, validity, and responsiveness;
•     aspects related to the interpretability of health and exposure measurements;
•     main principles of diagnostic testing and diagnostic research;
•     biomarkers within the context of health and exposure measurement roles of.

This course is based on the principles of problem-based learning (PBL). Various topics are introduced in lectures and further discussed in tutorial group meetings. A number of practicals are also scheduled throughout the course to practice with the theoretical concepts through assignments and presentations. The mixture of lectures, tasks, practicals, assignments, and presentations creates an optimal learning environment for mastering the topics of this course.

Knowledge and understanding 

Students know and understand:

- principles of classifying health and disease, and the use of health classification systems;

- various types of measures and measurement methods;

- theory of health and exposure measurement (clinimetrics);

- relevant aspects of the quality of measures and measurement methods (validity, reliability, responsiveness);

- steps required for the development and evaluation of a measure or measurement scale;

- steps and skills required for the critical evaluation of measures and methods for health and exposure measurement;

- main principles of diagnostic research and indicators and evaluation of the quality of diagnostic tests and strategies;

- roles of biological markers (biomarkers) within the context of health and exposure measurement and monitoring.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students are able to:

- perform a critical assessment of the design and results of already published clinimetric or diagnostic studies;

- apply the main principles and techniques of health measurement scale development and evaluation, including diagnostic tests, to assess the appropriateness of (existing) scales and test strategies regarding validity, reliability, responsiveness, and interpretability, or to develop a new measurement scale / diagnostic test (strategy).

Making judgments

Students are able to:

- form a balanced judgment on the application of a broad range of health measurement scales, diagnostic test procedures and strategies within the context of both health sciences research and practice.

Communication

Students are able to:

- communicate with experts and non-experts, both by means of written reports / comments and oral presentations, on the design, methodological issues, results and conclusions of a broad range of clinimetric studies and diagnostic research.

Basic textbook on measurement theory and concepts:

·         Measurement in Medicine

HCW de Vet, CB Terwee, LB Mokkink, DL Knol

Cambridge University Press (2011, 1^st edition)

Other recommended textbooks:

·         Health Measurement Scales: a practical guide to their development and use

DL Streiner, GR Norman, J Cairney

Oxford University Press (2014, 5^th edition) 

·         Gordis Epidemiology

DD Celentano, M Szklo

Elsevier Saunders (2019, 6^th edition) 

·         Clinical Epidemiology. The Essentials

GS Fletcher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2020, 6^th edition)