Paper

Process of Measuring in Clinical Medicine - Implications of Different Definitions in Clinical Therapeutic Studies
Andree Beckerling, Waldemar Braun, Michael Sommer

IFE Institute for Research and Development at the University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Digestion 2007;75 (Suppl. 1):25-31 (DOI: 10.1159/000101079)

  Key Words

• Symptomatic healing
• Measurement error
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

  Abstract

Often, the decision whether a patient can be considered as healthy or ill is very difficult and depends on measurements and the interpretation of the results. Therefore, it is necessary to build and establish devices that base on certain pre-considerations (who should assess the data, when and how should be measured). Additionally, these devices have to be valid, reliable and responsive. According to the literature we came to the conclusion that no uniform definition of what is 'healthy' exists. Referring to mathematical considerations we show an approach to solve this problem especially when the device is a scale. Based on the quality of the scale and of certain pre-considerations, normal ranges can be established that will help to distinguish whether patients are 'healthy' or 'ill'. In this short review we discuss the problem of the establishment of a cut-off level on the basis of devices and we try to point out a solution to solve the arising problems.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Andree Beckerling
IFE Institute for Research and Development, University Witten/Herdecke GmbH
Alfred-Herrhausen-Strasse 44
DE-58455 Witten (Germany)
Tel. +49 2302 921 5, Fax +49 2302 921 600, E-Mail office@ife-europe.com

  Article Information

Published online: May 4, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 22