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    Abstract:
    Abstract Objective Accurate knowledge is central to effective self‐care of osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to assess the measurement properties of the Osteoarthritis Knowledge Scale (OAKS) with versions for the hip and knee. Methods Participants with hip OA ( n = 144), knee OA ( n = 327), and no OA ( n = 735) were recruited. Rasch analysis was conducted to assess psychometric properties using data from all participants with hip OA and 144 randomly selected participants with either knee OA or no OA. Test‐retest reliability and measurement error were estimated among those with hip ( n = 51) and knee ( n = 142) OA. Results Four items from the draft scales were deleted following Rasch analysis. The final 11‐item OAKS was unidimensional. Item functioning was not affected by gender, age, educational level, or scale version (hip or knee). Person separation index was 0.75. Test‐retest intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.81 (95% CI 0.74, 0.86; hip version 0.66 [0.47, 0.79]; knee version 0.85 (0.79, 0.90)). Smallest detectable change was 9 points (scale range 11–55; hip OA version 11 points; knee OA version 8 points). Conclusion The OAKS is a psychometrically adequate, unidimensional measure of important OA knowledge that can be used in populations with and without hip and knee OA. Caution is needed when using with populations with only hip OA as test‐retest reliability of the hip version did not surpass the acceptable range.
    The versions of the Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ) is regarded as one of the most extensively used condition-specific instrument measuring disability resulting from low back pain. It has been shown to have adequate psychometrics, reliability, validity, and responsiveness as a whole, yet the summated total score of the instrument often provide little information to rehabilitation clinicians. A keyform analysis based on Rasch measurement model is an innovative way of illustrating the specific test items that an individual may or may not perform. By applying the keyform of the Rasch measurement model to the ODQ, rehabilitation clinicians may able to select more challenging ODQ items matching an individual’s ability and document them as attainable treatment goals. The results demonstrated how a keyform analysis assist to setting possible goals for the treatment of individuals with low back pain. Forty-two individuals with low back pain were recruited from rehabilitation clinics in Gainesville, Florida. A series of Rasch analyses on the 10 items of the ODQ were performed using Winsteps software. The performance of two individuals on those 10 items was illustrated on the keyform. The keyform analysis of the Rasch measurement model may be translated into a useful tool
    Polytomous Rasch model
    Citations (0)
    This research aimed to develop a short form of the Self-assessment Practices Scale (SaPS). Guided by a process model of self-assessment, the SaPS scale was designed to assess the actions students engage in during the self-assessment process. The data used for developing the original 20-item SaPS (SaPS-20), i.e., 1416 Hong Kong students ranging from Primary 4 to Secondary 3, were reanalyzed, and a 12-item short form (SaPS-SF) was developed. Factor analysis and Rasch analysis were applied in complementary ways to examine the psychometric properties of the SaPS-SF. The results showed that factor structure of the original scale held in the SaPS-SF, and all items fitted the Rasch model requirements sufficiently and measured the constructs as theorized. The findings presented in this study facilitate the measurement of self-assessment practice in a parsimonious and effective way.
    Item analysis
    Citations (18)
    The DyNaChron (Dysfonctionnement Nasal Chronique) questionnaire is a self-reporting 78-item instrument assessing six symptoms and their consequences of chronic nasal dysfunction. Patients complete items of a symptom domain only when it is present but in case the patient presents several or all symptoms, its length can limit its use. Here, we aimed to optimize, or shorten, the DyNaChron for clinical use.A total of 640 patients in 14 rhinology outpatient clinics all over France completed the original DyNaChron questionnaire before the first rhinologic clinic and 15 days later. The optimization process involved Rasch analysis and then qualitative content analyses. Rasch analysis flagged items with a floor/ceiling effect or with important differential item functioning and an expert committee decided whether to retain the flagged items on the basis of clinical importance and statistical characteristics. The psychometric properties of the optimized version were studied according to classical test theory and Rasch analysis.Rasch analysis revealed 4 items with underfit, 6 with an extreme score, 2 that were highly locally dependent and 16 with differential item functioning which 5 of these 16 items were retained after content analysis. In total, 19 flagged items were removed. Factorial analysis confirmed the preservation of the initial instrument structure in the optimized scale; psychometrics properties and scale calibration were the same as or better than the original version.The shortened DyNaChron optimizes the quality of assessment by deleting redundant items and reduces the burden on respondents; the structure is preserved and the psychometrics properties are improved.
    Differential item functioning
    Polytomous Rasch model
    Item analysis
    Citations (2)
    The reliability and precision of measurement in sports medicine are of concern in both research and clinical practice. The validity of conclusions drawn from a research project and the rationale for decisions made about the care of an injured athlete are directly related to the precision of measurement. Through analysis of variance, estimates of reliability and precision of measurement can be quantified. The purpose of this manuscript is to introduce the concepts of intraclass correlation as an estimate of reliability and standard error of measurement as an estimate of precision. The need for a standardized set of formulas for intraclass correlation is demonstrated, and it is urged that the standard error of measurement be included when estimates of reliability are reported. In addition, three examples are provided to illustrate important concepts and familiarize the reader with the process of calculating these estimates of reliability and precision of measurement.
    Accuracy and precision
    Citations (299)

    Aim:

    Previous psychometric evaluation of the Cataract Symptom Scale (CSS) focused on classic assessments of reliability and validity. The aim was to investigate the psychometric properties of the CSS using the Rasch measurement model.

    Methods:

    243 patients drawn from the Flinders Eye Centre cataract surgery waiting-list self-administered the CSS. Rasch analysis was used to investigate the following properties of the CSS: measurement a single construct (unidimensionality), discrimination between strata of patient ability (person separation) and targeting of item difficulty to person ability.

    Results:

    The CSS discriminated between four strata of patients. However, some items did not contribute towards measurement of a single construct, indicating a secondary dimension. This comprised three mobility items, which formed a separate valid subscale. Elimination of these items resulted in the CSS being a unidimensional measure. However, further item deletion was required, as symptoms items did not measure the same construct. The resultant nine-item measure was unidimensional.

    Conclusions:

    The CSS consists of two separate unidimensional constructs: mobility and visual disability. The reduced nine-item measure has good psychometric properties and is unidimensional. The CSS is essentially a measure of visual disability, and not cataract symptoms as it is claimed to be.
    Citations (26)
    The versions of the Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ) is regarded as one of the most extensively used condition-specific instruments measuring disability resulting from low back pain. It has been shown to have adequate psychometrics, reliability, validity, and responsiveness as a whole, yet the summated total score of the instrument often provide little information to rehabilitation clinicians. A keyform analysis based on Rasch measurement model is an innovative way of illustrating the specific test items that an individual may or may not perform. By applying the keyform of the Rasch measurement model to the ODQ, rehabilitation clinicians may able to select more challenging ODQ items matching an individual's ability and document them as attainable treatment goals. The results demonstrated how a keyform analysis assist to setting possible goals for the treatment of individuals with low back pain. Forty-two individuals with low back pain were recruited from rehabilitation clinics in Gainesville, Florida. A series of Rasch analyses on the 10 items of the ODQ were performed using Winsteps software. The performance of two individuals on those 10 items was illustrated on the keyform. The keyform analysis of the Rasch measurement model may be translated into a useful tool for making clinical judgements.
    Polytomous Rasch model
    Aging has determined a demographic shift in the world, which is considered a major societal achievement, and a challenge. Aging is primarily a subjective experience, shaped by factors such as gender and culture. There is a lack of instruments to assess attitudes to aging adequately. In addition, there is no instrument developed or validated in developing region contexts, so that the particularities of ageing in these areas are not included in the measures available. This paper aims to develop and validate a reliable attitude to aging instrument by combining classical psychometric approach and Rasch analysis. Pilot study and field trial are described in details. Statistical analysis included classic psychometric theory (EFA and CFA) and Rasch measurement model. The latter was applied to examine unidimensionality, response scale and item fit. Sample was composed of 424 Brazilian old adults, which was compared to an international sample (n = 5238). The final instrument shows excellent psychometric performance (discriminant validity, confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch fit statistics). Rasch analysis indicated that modifications in the response scale and item deletions improved the initial solution derived from the classic approach. The combination of classic and modern psychometric theories in a complementary way is fruitful for development and validation of instruments. The construction of a reliable Brazilian Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire is important for assessing cultural specificities of aging in a transcultural perspective and can be applied in international cross-cultural investigations running less risk of cultural bias.
    Classical test theory
    Measurement Invariance
    Sample (material)
    Discriminant validity
    Polytomous Rasch model
    Citations (47)
    Abstract Background Reliable and valid measurement is the foundation of evidence-based practice. The self-administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument (S-FHAI) was recently developed to measure patients’ evaluations of their own foot health. Evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the S-FHAI is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate those properties by using a Rasch analysis. Methods This methodological study analysed secondary data that was collected from nurses ( n = 411) in 2015. The psychometric properties of the S-FHAI were evaluated using the Rasch model. Unidimensionality was analysed first, followed by item functioning, person misfit and differential item functioning (DIF). Results The S-FHAI demonstrated evidence of unidimensionality, with an acceptable item fit according to the Rasch model. Person fit and person separation were low, however, indicating restricted separation among different respondents. Item separation was high, demonstrating clear discrimination between the items. No DIF was detected in relation to gender, but significant DIF was demonstrated in relation to age for 6 of the 25 items. Conclusions The S-FHAI has potential for use in investigating self-reported foot health. The Rasch analysis revealed that the psychometric properties of the instrument were acceptable, although some issues should be addressed to improve the scale. In future, it may be beneficial to analyse the sensitivity of the items and to test the S-FHAI in more diverse patient populations.
    Differential item functioning
    Polytomous Rasch model
    Separation (statistics)
    Citations (11)