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- Title
Use of item response theory to develop a shortened version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning scale.
- Authors
Bjorner, J.B.; Petersen, M.Aa.; Groenvold, M.; Aaronson, N.; Ahlner-Elmqvist, M.; Arraras, J.I.; Brédart, A.; Fayers, P.; Jordhoy, M.; Sprangers, M.; Watson, M.; Young, T.; Brédart, A; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>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.<bold>Methods: </bold>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.<bold>Results: </bold>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.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>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.
- Subjects
EUROPE; ITEM response theory; QUALITY of life; EMOTIONS; PALLIATIVE treatment; CANCER education
- Publication
Quality of Life Research, 2004, Vol 13, Issue 10, p1683
- ISSN
0962-9343
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s11136-004-7866-x