the specific points at which a change in a measurement or outcome becomes important or meaningful to patients, clinicians, or researchers. These thresholds indicate the smallest difference or change in a score, symptom, or condition that is perceived as beneficial, harmful, or significant enough to warrant a change in care, policy, or decision-making. They help translate numeric results into real-world significance.
Example
A questionnaire measuring pain in patients with osteoarthritis uses a 0–10 scale. A decrease of 2 points is identified as the threshold of meaning because it represents the smallest reduction in pain that patients consistently report as making a noticeable difference in their daily activities.