WOMAC physical function subscale

Method

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function subscale, 17 items, administered in Likert (0-68) or visual-analogue format.

The method is part of the endpoint identity. Studies measuring the same quantity by a different method are held as separate endpoints.

Notes

SIGN INVERSION HAZARD against every performance-based function endpoint in this vocabulary. This is a DIFFICULTY score — a higher number means worse function — so it improves by FALLING, whereas six-minute walk test distance, gait speed, activities-of-daily-living scores and Karnofsky Performance Status all improve by RISING. Also distinct from the WOMAC total index, which is 17 of 24 items this subscale and is therefore largely driven by it — carrying both from one trial double-counts — and from physical function (pooled across scales), which is an SMD across unheld instruments with no points at all.