Background

Database Development

Planning for this database involved hosting a workshop at the 2nd Annual IN-CAM Symposium, conducting a survey of CAM researchers, practitioners and students, obtaining input from experts in the field of CAM and outcome assessment, and conducting a literature review. Based on these activities, we have developed a comprehensive list of outcome measures that may be used in CAM research, as well as a unique Framework of Outcome Domains to categorize those outcome measures within our database. We invite your comments and feedback on the utility of the database in general and the framework specifically.

Data Collection

 For each outcome measure listed in the database, one team member conducted a thorough literature search using medical databases (e.g., Ovid, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO), outcomes assessment textbooks and the world wide web. A second team member verified the information through an independent literature search as a measure of reliability. When possible and necessary, the developers of individual outcome measures were contacted to review data collected through the literature search and to provide further information.

Scope of the Database

Our goal was to create a database of outcome measures that are relevant to CAM research. Psychometrically tested outcome measures tend to dominate the database; however, given the ongoing development of outcome measures unique to CAM research, we also include newly developed outcome measures that are not yet fully tested.
Given the complexity of collecting and presenting data on such a diverse variety of outcome measures, and limited resources, the scope of the database has limitations. For example, instead of providing a psychometric assessment or rating of each outcome measure, we provide a list of important psychometric references so the user can make their own assessment. To help with this assessment, we provide information on attributes of a good outcome measure in a dedicated webpage as well as in our Glossary .
The database is a work in progress. Identification of relevant outcome measures and the related information is an on-going process. We intend this database project to be as interactive as possible; therefore we invite users to become members of the free IN-CAM network and to comment on the information included and to suggest outcome measures that may not (yet) be included in the Database. You may also post any comments or feedback you may have on specific outcome measures on the Discussion Board .