Validation of a symptoms distress scale in a cirrhotic population using item response theory
2018
Background: The assessment of symptoms distress is an important strategy for symptoms management and treatment of
patients with liver cirrhosis (LC); however, appropriate instruments are limited.
Objective: The objective of this study was to validate a symptoms distress scale (SDS) by confirming the appropriateness of each
item using item response theory.
Methods: A cross-sectional and convenience sampling was conducted to recruit eligible cirrhotic outpatients from the
gastroenterology outpatient department of a single medical university hospital. In total, 163 patients with LC completed the
21-itemSDS. A graded response model with two-parameter (discrimination and difficulty) estimation was used for data analysis.
Results: The item response theory model identified the validity of the SDS and found that most of the items in the SDS
represented a high level of symptoms distress; moreover, three items of bruising, drowsiness, and dark urine were reported in
cirrhotic patients with severe symptom distress. Four items comprising bodily pain, right upper quadrant pain, muscle cramps,
and change in appearance can be appropriately represented in cirrhotic patients with mild symptoms distress. Moreover, the
amount of test information in the SDS was >0.70, indicating acceptable reliability.
Discussion: Items of the SDS can be useful for assessing different levels of symptoms distress; however, using the scale to assess
mild symptoms distress in populations with LC should be done with great caution
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