MYMOP

What is the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP)?

The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) is a patient-generated measure designed to assess patient outcomes in a personalized and patient-centered manner.

According to Polus and colleagues (2011), MYMOP was first published in 1996 and revised to MYMOP2 in 1999. This version includes a medication section. It is a sensitive measure of within-person change over time, effective across various types of care, and is a brief, simple outcome questionnaire suitable for consultations.

Unlike traditional assessment tools, MYMOP focuses on what matters most to the patient by allowing them to identify and prioritize one or two symptoms that significantly impact their daily life and capture general information. This approach ensures that the evaluation is specific and individualized, catering to each patient's unique health concerns. Originally developed for health services research, MYMOP has become a valuable tool for healthcare practitioners and patients to track medical outcomes over time.

MYMOP has been used to evaluate patient outcomes in diverse clinical settings, including acupuncture, massage therapy in Aboriginal communities, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and chiropractic management of patellar tendinopathy.

What is included in the MYMOP?

Carepatron's MYMOP template is designed to streamline the process of measuring outcomes in primary care. As the original version is copyrighted, our template is based on the revised version, the MYMOP2.

The MYMOP2 is a comprehensive tool that facilitates patient-centred outcomes by focusing on specific and individualised measures. It is structured to provide a qualitative evaluation of a patient's health status, ensuring that the medical outcome profile is both thorough and tailored to individual needs. Here are the key sections included in the MYMOP2:

Symptoms

In this section, patients identify one or two primary symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. This focus on patient-identified symptoms makes MYMOP2 a specific and individualised measure, crucial for accurately assessing patient outcomes.

Activity

Patients describe an activity that is affected by their identified symptoms. This helps them understand how symptoms interfere with daily life, providing a clear picture of their life outcomes and overall quality of life.

Well-being

This section captures the patient's general well-being. By incorporating this aspect, the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 ensures a holistic approach to assessing patient medical outcomes, capturing the broader impacts of health issues on a person's life.

Medication

This section records any changes in medication and its effects for those on medication. This allows for a detailed qualitative evaluation of how treatments influence patients' symptoms and overall health.

How does our MYMOP template work?

During the initial consultation, patients complete a questionnaire identifying one or two primary symptoms affecting their general well-being. This personalized approach ensures that the medical outcome profile captures the most relevant issues for each patient.

The template includes sections assessing specific symptoms, the impact on daily activities, and overall well-being. It also tracks any changes in medication, providing a comprehensive measure of the patient's medical outcome.

The outcome questionnaire evaluates changes as treatment progresses, making it particularly useful for manual therapies and other interventions.

Scoring and interpretation of the MYMOP

The MYMOP2 scoring system is designed to ensure accurate and meaningful assessments. It is relatively straightforward. The four items are rated on a seven-point scale, where 0 represents the best possible outcome, and 6 represents the worst possible outcome. Therefore, a decrease in the MYMOP2 score indicates improved health outcomes. The MYMOP2 "profile score" is calculated as the mean of the four-item scores. Regular follow-ups using MYMOP2 can track progress and adjust treatments as necessary.

Benefits of the MYMOP

The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 offers numerous advantages for both healthcare providers and patients. This patient-generated outcome questionnaire is uniquely designed to capture important symptoms and track clinical changes over time. Here are three key benefits of using the MYMOP2:

Patient-centered focus

MYMOP2 is a patient-centered tool that prioritizes the symptoms most important to the patient, whether related to daily living, well-being, or medication use. By allowing patients to specify their most pressing concerns, MYMOP2 ensures that the medical outcome profile reflects what truly matters to them.

Sensitive to clinical change

One significant benefit of this measure is its sensitivity to clinical change. This short-form outcome questionnaire effectively tracks patient symptoms and well-being changes over time.

Easy integration and application

MYMOP2's straightforward design makes it easy to integrate into various clinical settings. Its simplicity allows for quick completion during consultations, and the focus on symptoms from the last week ensures that the information is relevant and current.

Limitations of the MYMOP

One limitation is its reliance on patient self-reporting, which may introduce subjective biases or inaccuracies in symptom assessment. Additionally, MYMOP2's effectiveness may vary depending on the patient's ability to articulate their symptoms and changes over time.

Another consideration is the potential for variability in scoring interpretation among healthcare providers, which could affect the consistency of outcomes measurement. Moreover, MYMOP2's focus on specific symptoms and its structured format may not capture the full complexity of conditions involving multiple interconnected symptoms or holistic health impacts.

Reference

Polus, B. I., Kimpton, A. J., & Walsh, M. J. (2011). Use of the measure your medical outcome profile (MYMOP2) and W-BQ12 (Well-Being) outcomes measures to evaluate chiropractic treatment: an observational study. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 19(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-709x-19-7