Assessing Items on the SF-8 Japanese Version for Health-Related Quality of Life- A Psychometric Analysis Based on the Nominal Categories Model of Item Response Theory

Jun 1, 2009, 00:00
10.1111/j.1524-4733.2008.00449.x
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(10)60800-5/fulltext
Title : Assessing Items on the SF-8 Japanese Version for Health-Related Quality of Life- A Psychometric Analysis Based on the Nominal Categories Model of Item Response Theory
Citation : https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/action/showCitFormats?pii=S1098-3015(10)60800-5&doi=10.1111/j.1524-4733.2008.00449.x
First page :
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Open access? : No
Section Order : 22

Objectives

The Short Form-8 (SF-8) questionnaire is a commonly used 8-item instrument of health-related quality of life (QOL) and provides a health profile of eight subdimensions. Our aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the SF-8 instrument using methodology based on nominal categories model.

Methods

Using data from an adjusted random sample from a nationally representative panel, the nominal categories modeling was applied to SF-8 items to characterize coverage of the latent trait (θ). Probabilities for response choices were described as functions on the latent trait. Information functions were generated based on the estimated item parameters.

Results

A total of 3344 participants (53%, women; median age, 35 years) provided responses. One factor was retained (eigenvalue, 4.65; variance proportion of 0.58) and used as θ. All item response category characteristic curves satisfied the monotonicity assumption in accurate order with corresponding ordinal responses. Four items (general health, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health) cover most of the spectrum of θ, while the other four items (physical function, role physical [role limitations because of physical health], social functioning, and role emotional [role limitations because of emotional problems]) cover most of the negative range of θ. Information function for all items combined peaked at −0.7 of θ (information = 18.5) and decreased with increasing θ.

Conclusion

The SF-8 instrument performs well among those with poor QOL across the continuum of the latent trait and thus can recognize more effectively persons with relatively poorer QOL than those with relatively better QOL.

Categories :
  • Instrument Development, Validation, & Translation
  • Methodological & Statistical Research
  • Patient-Centered Research
  • PRO & Related Methods
  • Study Approaches
  • Survey Methods
  • Surveys & Expert Panels
Tags :
  • health-related quality of life
  • information function
  • item response theory
  • nominal categories model
  • psychometric analysis
Regions :
  • Asia Pacific (including Oceania)
ViH Article Tags :