MCID

Minimal Clinically Important DifferenceResearch Methods & Statistics

The smallest change a patient would actually notice or value.

The Minimal Clinically Important Difference is the smallest change in an outcome that a patient would perceive as meaningful, and that would justify a change in management. It helps distinguish a statistically significant result from one that actually matters in practice. A result can be significant yet fall below the MCID, meaning it is real but trivial.

Related terms
Standardised Mean DifferencePatient-Reported Outcome Measure
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