Table 4.

Purpose and advantages using outcome measures in clinical care/audit (multiple answers possible)

	Europe n (%)	Africa n (%)
Purpose of using outcome measures in clinical care/audit	n = 254	n = 86
To assess patients' symptoms/needs/problems	234 (92.1%)	77 (89.5%)
To monitor changes in patients' health status or quality of life	180 (70.9%)	58 (67.4%)
To evaluate the effect of an intervention/care/service	172 (67.7%)	68 (79.1%)
To facilitate communication in the team	117 (46.1%)	35 (40.7%)
To document patients' characteristics	116 (45.7%)	37 (43.0%)
To assess families' needs/problems	111 (43.7%)	51 (59.3%)
To facilitate communication with patients/families	85 (33.5%)	40 (46.5%)
To assess the care given against standards (in audit)	59 (23.2%)	45 (52.3%)
Other, please state	9 (3.5%)	12 (14.0%)
Advantages of using outcome measures	n = 233	n = 78
To better understand patients' and families' needs (e.g. assessment, screening)	186 (79.8%)	72 (92.3%)
To improve the quality of care for patients and families	172 (73.8%)	72 (92.3%)
To make decisions regarding treatment/care	170 (73.0%)	73 (93.6%)
To communicate in the team	147 (63.1%)	56 (71.8%)
To evaluate services	121 (51.9%)	64 (82.1%)
To communicate with the patients and families	102 (43.8%)	58 (74.4%)
Other, please state	16 (6.9%)	14 (17.9%)