Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of outcome measures?

Outcome measures are essential tools used to assess the effectiveness of healthcare interventions and to monitor patient progress over time. The characteristic that is identified as NOT being true about outcome measures is that they do not require validation.

Validation is a critical process in developing outcome measures, as it ensures that the measures accurately capture what they are intended to measure. This can involve demonstrating that the measure is reliable (producing consistent results under consistent conditions) and valid (measuring what it is supposed to measure). Without proper validation, the results from these measures could be misleading, potentially impacting clinical decision-making and patient care.

On the other hand, the other characteristics mentioned—being based on patient perception, needing to be standardized, and reflecting clinical progress—are all essential qualities of outcome measures. Specifically, being based on patient perception ensures that the measures are relevant to the patients' experiences, while standardization is important for ensuring that results can be compared across different populations and settings. Additionally, outcome measures correlating with clinical progress provide valuable insights into the efficacy of treatments and interventions over time.