Global Perceived Effect scales provided reliable assessments of health transition in people with musculoskeletal disorders, but ratings are strongly influenced by current status

Test-retest reliability of the GPE is excellent. GPE ratings are strongly influenced by current status, with the effect more obvious as transition time lengthens. This result questions whether transition ratings truly reflect change, or rather just current state. This finding also has implications for the use of GPE ratings as an external criterion of change in clinimetric studies.