A New Tool to Assess the Person-Centeredness of Research Measures: The Person-Centered Measure Evaluation Tool (PC-MET).

BackgroundNo tool exists to assess whether research measures themselves are consistent with principles of person-centeredness.ObjectiveThis project developed a tool to assess the extent of person-centeredness employed in the development, content, and application of research measure development in the context of measures relevant to persons living with dementia and/or their caregivers.MethodsLiterature review and expert input informed the development of the tool; pilot testing assessed interrater reliability and rater acceptability.ResultsThe tool includes six criteria (each with three subcategories): Co-Creation, Accommodation, Incorporation, Biopsychosocial-Cultural Components, Pragmatism, and Systemic Focus. Kappa agreement was substantial or better (0.61-1.00) for most (16/18) subcategories and for all six criteria (0.74-1.00). Raters found the tool easy to understand and score and the criteria to be relevant and complete.ConclusionsThe resulting tool-named the Person-Centered Measure Evaluation Tool (PC-MET)-can reliably critique existing measures and guide the development of new measures.