The responsiveness of goal attainment scaling using just one goal in controlled clinical trials: an exploratory analysis

Abstract Background Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is an individualized outcome measure that allows the setting of personalized treatment goals. We compared the responsiveness of GAS when individuals set only one goal instead of the recommended three or more goals. Methods We conducted exploratory analyses on data from two randomized controlled trials: the Video-Imaging Synthesis of Treating Alzheimer’s Disease (VISTA) (n = 130); and the Mobile Geriatric Assessment Team (MGAT) (n = 265). Independent t-tests and standardized response means (SRMs) were used to assess responsiveness of one- vs. multiple-goal GAS. Results In VISTA, clinician-rated multiple-goal GAS detected higher goal attainment in the intervention group (p = 0.01; SRM = 0.48). One-goal GAS, whether rated by patients or by clinicians, did not detect differences in goal attainment between groups (patient: p = 0.56, SRM = 0.10; clinician: p = 0.10, SRM = 0.29). In MGAT, multiple-goal GAS (outcome goals: p