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Use of item response theory to develop a shortened version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning scale

Bjorner, JB ; Petersen, MA ; Groenvold, M ; Aaronson, N ; Ahlner-Elmqvist, Marianne LU ; Arraras, JI ; Bredart, A ; Fayers, P ; Jordhoy, M and Sprangers, M , et al. (2004) In Quality of Life Research 13(10). p.1683-1697
Abstract
Background: As part of a larger study whose objective is to develop an abbreviated version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 suitable for research in palliative care, analyses were conducted to determine the feasibility of generating a shorter version of the 4-item emotional functioning (EF) scale that could be scored in the original metric. Methods: We used data from 24 European cancer studies conducted in 10 different languages (n = 8242). Item selection was based on analyses by item response theory (IRT). Based on the IRT results, a simple scoring algorithm was developed to predict the original 4-item EF sum scale score from a reduced number of items. Results: Both a 3-item and a 2-item version ( item 21 'Did you feel tense?' and item 24 'Did you... (More)
Background: As part of a larger study whose objective is to develop an abbreviated version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 suitable for research in palliative care, analyses were conducted to determine the feasibility of generating a shorter version of the 4-item emotional functioning (EF) scale that could be scored in the original metric. Methods: We used data from 24 European cancer studies conducted in 10 different languages (n = 8242). Item selection was based on analyses by item response theory (IRT). Based on the IRT results, a simple scoring algorithm was developed to predict the original 4-item EF sum scale score from a reduced number of items. Results: Both a 3-item and a 2-item version ( item 21 'Did you feel tense?' and item 24 'Did you feel depressed?') predicted the total score with excellent agreement and very little bias. In group comparisons, the 2-item scale led to the same conclusions as those based on the original 4-item scale with little or no loss of measurement efficiency. Conclusion: Although these results are promising, confirmatory studies are needed based on independent samples. If such additional studies yield comparable results, incorporation of the 2-item EF scale in an abbreviated version of the QLQ-C30 for use in palliative care research settings would be justified. The analyses reported here demonstrate the usefulness of the IRT-based methodology for shortening questionnaire scales. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cancer, IRT, palliative care, prediction, quality of life, shortening, of scales
in
Quality of Life Research
volume
13
issue
10
pages
1683 - 1697
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:15651539
  • wos:000225186200006
  • scopus:13844255794
ISSN
1573-2649
DOI
10.1007/s11136-004-7866-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5e69b025-6892-4520-bed4-9f2c829bd231 (old id 897956)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:07:21
date last changed
2022-02-13 02:53:52
@article{5e69b025-6892-4520-bed4-9f2c829bd231,
  abstract     = {{Background: As part of a larger study whose objective is to develop an abbreviated version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 suitable for research in palliative care, analyses were conducted to determine the feasibility of generating a shorter version of the 4-item emotional functioning (EF) scale that could be scored in the original metric. Methods: We used data from 24 European cancer studies conducted in 10 different languages (n = 8242). Item selection was based on analyses by item response theory (IRT). Based on the IRT results, a simple scoring algorithm was developed to predict the original 4-item EF sum scale score from a reduced number of items. Results: Both a 3-item and a 2-item version ( item 21 'Did you feel tense?' and item 24 'Did you feel depressed?') predicted the total score with excellent agreement and very little bias. In group comparisons, the 2-item scale led to the same conclusions as those based on the original 4-item scale with little or no loss of measurement efficiency. Conclusion: Although these results are promising, confirmatory studies are needed based on independent samples. If such additional studies yield comparable results, incorporation of the 2-item EF scale in an abbreviated version of the QLQ-C30 for use in palliative care research settings would be justified. The analyses reported here demonstrate the usefulness of the IRT-based methodology for shortening questionnaire scales.}},
  author       = {{Bjorner, JB and Petersen, MA and Groenvold, M and Aaronson, N and Ahlner-Elmqvist, Marianne and Arraras, JI and Bredart, A and Fayers, P and Jordhoy, M and Sprangers, M and Watson, M and Young, T}},
  issn         = {{1573-2649}},
  keywords     = {{cancer; IRT; palliative care; prediction; quality of life; shortening; of scales}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1683--1697}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Quality of Life Research}},
  title        = {{Use of item response theory to develop a shortened version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning scale}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-7866-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11136-004-7866-x}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}