Test-retest validity of the Individual Management Plan Outcome Score.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Test-retest validity of the Individual Management Plan Outcome Score (IMP-OS).
IRAS ID
179730
Contact name
Piers Dawes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
The Individual Management Plan Outcome Score (IMP-OS) is a newly-devised outcome questionnaire for adult audiological rehabilitation, developed by the clinical audiology team at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. At initial assessment, patients nominate a (non-fixed) number of listening needs; i.e. situations in which they would like to hear better. At follow-up, they are asked to award a score for the extent to which each need has been fulfilled. A global score for the patient is then calculated by averaging the scores obtained from all the scored needs.
Outcome measures are important for evaluating whether an individual patient’s rehabilitation has been effective, for comparing different rehabilitation protocols, and for demonstrating to funding providers that rehabilitation is beneficial. Various other outcome measures are already widely used within other NHS audiology departments. However, these all have particular deficiencies, such as lack of sensitivity, and inapplicability to individual patients, that perhaps warrant introduction of a newer tool like IMP-OS.
It is currently unknown whether IMPOS scores measured at follow-up are repeatable for the same patient (test-retest validity). Similarly, it is also unclear by how much a score must change for this to be considered statistically significant (critical difference).
In the proposed study, new hearing aid users will complete IMP-OS during their routine follow-up appointment (approximately 8 weeks after receiving a hearing aid). They will then complete it again (via post) around 2 weeks later, and again a further 2 weeks later. The three separate administrations will allow investigation of both test-retest reliability and any potential differences between face-to-face and postal completion of IMP-OS. Adult patients receiving their first hearing aid(s) will be eligible, and all appointments will be conducted in the Audiology Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1384
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion