Need support for a specific request?
Contact Us
Home » Select Measures » How to Select

How to Select

Steps to Select a HealthMeasure

HealthMeasures includes four measurement systems. Decide if you need a universal measure or one specific to a condition:

PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)

  • Measures physical, mental, and social health across a wide range of populations and conditions.
  • Best choice for general health assessment.

Neuro-QoL™ (Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders)

  • Assesses health-related quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions.
  • Best choice if you are working with people with a neurological condition.

NIH Toolbox®

  • Measures emotion. Additional performance-based tests of cognition, sensation, and motor functions are available at NIHToolbox.org.
  • Best choice if no PROMIS measure is available for your construct, or if you are administering via the NIH Toolbox iPad app.

ASCQ-Me® (Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement Information System)

  • Assesses quality of life in adults living with sickle cell disease.
  • Best choice if you are working with people with sickle cell disease. Start with PROMIS measures for universal symptoms and functions (e.g., fatigue) and add ASCQ-Me measures for specific sickle cell content (e.g., stiffness impact).

For more information, visit Compare Measurement Systems.

A domain is a specific area of health or functioning that a measure assesses. HealthMeasures domains span:

  • Physical health (e.g., pain, fatigue)
  • Mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression)
  • Social health (e.g., peer relationships)
  • Global health

The right domain depends on the specific area of health or functioning that you want to measure. People typically select multiple domains.

Each measurement system offers different domains. After deciding on a measurement system, review the domains it includes.

Not sure what domain(s) to use? View our recommended domains for specific Patient Populations.

Different measures are used with children and adults. Select the measure that matches your respondent’s age. This is crucial for accurate results.

  • For children under 8 years old
    • Use measures where parents report for their children.
    • PROMIS includes Early Childhood measures for ages 1-5 and Parent Proxy measures for ages 5-17.
    • NIH Toolbox includes Parent Proxy measures for ages 3-12.
  • For children ages 8-17
    • Use measures where children report on themselves (“self-report”).
    • PROMIS Pediatric measures are for ages 8-17.
    • Neuro-QoL Pediatric measures are for ages 8-17.
    • NIH Toolbox measures are for ages 8-17.
    • Visit Pediatric vs Proxy Report for more information.
  • For adults (ages 18+)
    • Use self-report measures.
    • PROMIS, Neuro-QoL, NIH Toolbox, and ASCQ-Me include measures for adults.

For guidance on which measures are appropriate for different age groups, visit Recommended Measures for Age Groups.

HealthMeasures are available in different formats. The choice depends on your goals, resources, and need for precision.

Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs)

  • Use CATs whenever possible.
  • The most efficient and precise type of measure.
  • Dynamic, tailored selection of items based on previous responses, reducing the number of items a respondent has to answer.

Short Forms

Profiles

  • Use when a broad health overview is needed, such as population health research or assessment of populations with multiple chronic conditions.
  • A collection of short forms or CATs covering multiple domains.

For a detailed comparison, see CAT vs. Short Form.

Once you have determined the measurement system, domain, respondent type, and measure type, the final step is to select a specific measure.

  • Compare Options: If multiple measures fit your criteria (e.g., 4-, 6-, and 8-item short forms; CAT and screen-to-CAT), consider the measure’s length and precision.
    • Longer short forms (e.g., 8 items) take more time to complete but are usually more precise than shorter forms (e.g., 4 items). Longer short forms are better for comparing small groups, evaluating individuals, monitoring health over time, and evaluating quality of care.
    • Shorter measures can be used for screening.
    • CATs are the most precise option, fast, and appropriate for all purposes. They are especially valuable for comparing small groups or evaluating individuals, where short forms are less adequate.
    • Use screen-to-CATs when precise scores are not needed for healthy respondents but are needed for those experiencing symptoms or impairment.
    • Explore Recommended Measures:
  • Review Item Content: Once you have selected a measure, review the items it includes. Evaluate if these items meet your needs. For example, do they ask the types of questions you expect based on what you want to assess? If you selected a CAT, you can review the full item bank. It includes all of the items a respondent may be asked, though typically a person only answers 4 items. Access a downloadable copy of your selected measure to review from the Measure Library.

If you need a HealthMeasure in a language other than English, see if it has been translated.

Note: There are specific steps for licensing translated HealthMeasures. Learn more at Translations.

Some administration platforms include only a subset of available HealthMeasures. If you know what administration platform you want to use (e.g., Epic), check that it includes your selected measure(s).

Now that you know the HealthMeasures you want to use, learn about the steps to license and implement. Learn more at Steps to License.

Last updated: September 14, 2026