A core outcome set (COS) is an agreed standardised set of outcomes that should be measured and reported, as a minimum, in all clinical trials in specific areas of health or health care. [1] Implementation of COS would help improve the quality of evidence-based knowledge, reduce research waste and improve the consistency and quality of information available, thereby helping people make better choices in healthcare. [2]  

Physiotherapy (PT) is a healthcare profession concerned with promoting, maintaining and restoring health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, rehabilitation and health promotion. Overall PT helps to improve human function and movement, thus maximising the physical potential of the individual. [3]  

COS in Physiotherapy?  

There is enormous literature available on Physiotherapy. However, due to heterogeneity of outcome measures used in difference clinical trials, not all published literature can be combined usefully in Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis to offer meaningful results. Therefore identifying and implementing a homogenous set of outcome measures would help in providing meaningful clinical decisions and improve overall care of the individual, thereby impacting the direct clinical care.[4] And over time, with standardized set of outcome measures across studies, especially with systematic reviews [5], the impact would be at a healthcare policy level.  

In order to facilitate use of COS in regular practice, there is an urgent need to ensure that physiotherapists are aware of relevant COS and how to use them. Therefor the first part of the session would highlight the importance of COS and its role in reducing research waste. [6]  

The second part of the session would focus on the existing COS in Physiotherapy, the quality of COS and also identify the relevant barriers and facilitators to use of COS in Physiotherapy. The third talk would focus on the application of COS in a clinical population, the use of relevant outcome measures in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. [7]The fourth talk would deal with the use of COS in guidelines, and how usage of a standardized set of outcome measures would help shape the results of a Clinical Practice guideline. [8]  

Relevance to Physiotherapy globally  

There is vast literature on the role of physiotherapists in improving the clinical outcomes of people across various disorders. However, due to heterogeneity of outcome measures used in trials, not all published literature can be usefully combined in systematic reviews and meta-analysis to offer meaningful results. Therefore, understanding and implementing a standardised, agreed set of outcome measures would aid meaningful clinical decisions and improve overall care of the individual, and impact healthcare policy.

1. Williamson PR, Altman DG, Blazeby JM, Clarke M, Devane D, Gargon E, Tugwell P. Developing core outcome sets for clinical trials: issues to consider. Trials. 2012 Dec;13:1-8. 
2. Chiarotto A, Ostelo RW, Turk DC, Buchbinder R, Boers M. Core outcome sets for research and clinical practice. Brazilian journal of physical therapy. 2017 Mar 1;21(2):77-84. 
3. World Confederation of Physical therapy. A policy statement. https://world.physio/sites/default/files/2020-07/PS-2019-Description-of-physical-therapy.pdf. Accessed on April 23, 2024 
4. Williamson PR, Altman DG, Blazeby JM, Clarke M, Devane D, Gargon E, Tugwell P. Developing core outcome sets for clinical trials: issues to consider. Trials. 2012 Dec;13:1-8. 
5. Williamson PR, de Ávila Oliveira R, Clarke M, Gorst SL, Hughes K, Kirkham JJ, Li T, Saldanha IJ, Schmitt J. Assessing the relevance and uptake of core outcome sets (an agreed minimum collection of outcomes to measure in research studies) in Cochrane systematic reviews: a review. BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 6;10(9):e036562. 
6. Karumbi J, Gorst S, Gathara D, Young B, Williamson P. Awareness and experiences on core outcome set development and use amongst stakeholders from low-and middle-income countries: An online survey. PLOS global public health. 2023 Dec 5;3(12):e0002574. 
7. Dobson F, Hinman RS, Roos EM, Abbott JH, Stratford P, Davis AM, Buchbinder R, Snyder-Mackler L, Henrotin Y, Thumboo J, Hansen P. OARSI recommended performance-based tests to assess physical function in people diagnosed with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2013 Aug 1;21(8):1042-52. 
8. Rhodes S, Dodd S, Deckert S, Vasanthan L, Qiu R, Rohde JF, Florez ID, Schmitt J, Nieuwlaat R, Kirkham J, Williamson PR. Representation of published core outcome sets in practice guidelines. J Clin Epidemiol. 2024 Feb 27;169:111311.