Developing Item Banks for Arthritis Quality of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Kopec Jacek A, Sayre Eric C, Davis Aileen M, Badley Elizabeth M, Abrahamowicz Michal, Sherlock Lesley, Williams J Ivan, Anis Aslam H, Esdaile John M
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
Can item response theory be used to develop item banks for health-related quality of life in arthritis?
Conclusion
The study successfully developed IRT-based item banks to measure health-related quality of life in five relevant domains for arthritis.
Supporting Evidence
- The study involved a large sample of 888 individuals with arthritis.
- Five domains of health-related quality of life were identified and developed.
- Item response theory was effectively applied to create adaptive measures.
Takeaway
Researchers created a set of questions to help understand how arthritis affects daily life, making it easier to measure and track health over time.
Methodology
The study involved item generation from existing questionnaires and focus groups, followed by factor analysis and item calibration using a large sample of patients with arthritis.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to differential item functioning related to age and sex was identified and addressed by removing certain items.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific populations sampled, and further validation studies are needed.
Participant Demographics
Participants included individuals with arthritis from clinical and community samples, with a majority being female and a significant proportion aged 65 or older.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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