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

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 < .001, SRM = 1.29; total goals: p < .001, SRM = 1.52) and one-goal GAS (outcome goals: p < .001, SRM = 0.89; total goals: p < .001, SRM = 0.75), detected significantly higher goal attainment in the intervention group. Conclusion One-goal GAS detected significant change in response to a patient-centred, multi-domain care initiative. As such, in similar contexts, one-goal GAS may be an effective means of optimizing personalization and improving GAS feasibility through reduced administration time. However, it is not yet clear if one-goal GAS is responsive in the context of a pharmacological intervention and further research is recommended.