Measurement Library | ASCENT Consortium

The ASCENT Measurement Library is an interactive, web-based resource that provides centralized access to measures with potential use in palliative care research. This library is designed to support consistent measurement, promote data harmonization, and identify existing measures relevant to palliative care research across the lifespan. This living document serves as a shared reference point for ASCENT investigators, coordinators, and collaborators to use for planning research, selecting appropriate measures, and/or aligning data collection efforts.

What This Resource Includes

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:

Adult Measurement Library
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).

How Measures are Selected for This Resource

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.

How to Use This Resource

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.