The ASCENT Measurement Library includes selected measures that are commonly used in palliative care research across the lifespan. This includes person-reported, clinician-reported, and observer-reported outcome measures, as well as measures from clinical and administrative data sources. There are two tabs at the top:

1. Adult Measurement Library
2. Pediatrics Measurement Library

Each entry includes structured details to help users quickly understand the purpose and context of a measure, such as:

• Measure or instrument name
• Relevant categories and subject areas
• Description of what each measure captures
• Methods of administration, respondent, and length
• Citations

The goal is to provide enough information at a glance to help users decide whether or not a measure may be appropriate for their research. This includes whether the content of the instruments corresponds to what they want to measure; whether it has demonstrated validity, reliability, and responsiveness; and whether it is appropriate for the context of use (i.e., study population, disease condition, and study environment).

The instruments included in the library were developed and/or tested in a palliative care or serious illness population and address an essential outcome domain in palliative care research. Most were endorsed by published systematic reviews relevant to palliative care. The systematic reviews varied in their criteria and rating method. Nonetheless, the instruments that were “recommended” or “highly scored” by the authors of each systematic review are included in this library. This method will omit some valid and reliable instruments that may be important in particular research studies, but it does create a compendium of the highest-quality and most commonly used instruments for the field.

In a rapidly emerging field of investigation, further evidence for instruments will expand this library over time. Measures may be added or updated as new projects are launched and consortium needs change. Feedback and contributions from ASCENT investigators help ensure the library remains current, useful, and relevant. Please contact ASCENTadmin@cuanschutz.edu with any feedback or questions.

The ASCENT Measurement Library allows users to browse, filter, and compare relevant measures. It can support a wide range of research activities, including:

• Study design and protocol development
• Identifying existing measures before developing new ones
• Aligning measures across ASCENT projects
• Supporting grant applications and proposals
• Facilitating cross-study comparison and collaboration

Please note that inclusion of an instrument in this library is not an endorsement by the ASCENT Consortium. Please also note that the investigator is responsible for obtaining any permissions or licenses for using the instruments in their research.