J Appl Meas, 2010 · DOI: · Published: January 1, 2010
Researchers are using qualitative data collection methods to better understand the experience of living with a disability. This data can be used to describe phenomena of interest, but it is challenging to transform the knowledge gained into practical data to inform research and clinical practice. The NIH has sponsored large initiatives to develop measurement tools for use across all of their patient populations. These instruments utilize advanced psychometric techniques and employ state-of-the-art administration methods, such as Item Response Theory (IRT) and Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT). Generic instruments may not address issues unique to specific conditions, such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore, additional condition-specific items need to be written and included in larger measurement systems to ensure targeted measurement of relevant issues.
The described methodology can improve the development of PRO measures that are targeted and sensitive to specific patient populations.
The use of CAT can ease administration burden while enabling evaluators to administer succinct, discrete item sets that exhibit solid psychometric accuracy, as well as a greater degree of discrimination, than fixed-length assessments.
This work may serve as a blueprint for the development of targeted item banks for other CAT applications in Medical Rehabilitation and potentially across an unlimited number of diagnostic groups.