Summary of commonly used anchor-based methods
| Method | Explanation | Comment |
| Jaeschke | Mean (Cfollow-up−Cbaseline) | Regression to the mean |
| Mean change, Redelmeier | Mean (Cfollow-up−Cbaseline)–Mean (Ufollow-up−Ubaseline) | Regression to the mean |
| Receiver operating curve | Cut-off point where sensitivity+specificity is maximised between changed and unchanged | Non-parametric Random sample variation Change analysed separately for worsening and improvement |
| Regression modelling | Transition variable# as independent or dependent variable | Control for confounding and effect modification |
Cfollow-up: follow-up score of patients who are changed based on response to anchor; Cbaseline: baseline score of patients who are changed based on response to anchor; Ufollow-up: follow-up score of patients who are unchanged based on response to anchor; Ubaseline: baseline score of patients who are unchanged based on response to anchor. #: transition variable (usually coded as 1 if changed based on response to anchor or 0 if unchanged based on anchor).