A minimal clinically important (or relevant) difference (MCID) can be defined as the smallest difference in score on an outcome measure (e.g. pain, disability, quality of life), which patients perceive as beneficial. This MCID can be used as a criterion to assess if a therapy has potential beneficial effects. (See Jaeschke R, Singer J, Guyatt GH. Measurement of health status: ascertaining the minimal clinically important difference. Control Clin Trials 1989;10:407–15)
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