What is a disadvantage of specific outcome measures?

• A. They are generally more expensive
• B. They tend to provide less information than generic measures
• C. They may miss unintended effects such as mental or emotional well-being
• D. They can only be used in clinical settings

Answer: (C)

Specific outcome measures are designed to assess particular symptoms or effects related to a specific condition or treatment. This focus can lead to a significant disadvantage: they may overlook or miss unintended effects, such as impacts on mental or emotional well-being, which are not directly related to the condition being measured.

In clinical contexts, while specific measures can yield detailed insights into the effectiveness or outcomes of a treatment for a defined condition, they do not encompass broader aspects of health. For example, a specific outcome measure for a physical issue may not account for the psychological or social consequences that accompany the condition or its treatment. As a result, reliance on these specific measures alone may yield an incomplete understanding of a patient's overall health.

While other options might touch on various aspects of assessments, such as cost, information breadth, or usage settings, they do not capture the core limitation inherent in the narrow focus of specific outcome measures, which is their potential to ignore broader health impacts.