Approaches and recommendations for estimating minimally important differences for health-related quality of life measures

Abstract

We describe currently available approaches for estimating the minimally important difference (MID) and their associated strengths and weaknesses. Specifically, we show that anchor-based methods should be the primary method of estimating the MID because of the limitations of distribution-based methods. In addition, we provide recommendations for estimating the MID in future research. Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis Inc.