Item response modelling for clinical and laboratory testing

作者：Cleophas Ton J^*; Zwinderman Aeilko H

来源：European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2010, 40(10): 911-917.

DOI：10.1111/j.1365-2362.2010.02362.x

• Clinical and laboratory analysis
• item response modelling
• item response theory
• latent trait analysis
• psychometric analysis
• quality of life analysis

P>Background
Item response models using exponential modelling are more sensitive than classical linear methods for making predictions from psychological questionnaires.
Objective
To assess whether they can also be used for making predictions from quality of life questionnaires and clinical and laboratory diagnostic-tests.
Methods
Of 1000 anginal patients assessed for quality of life and 1350 patients assessed for peripheral vascular disease with diagnostic laboratory tests, items response modelling was applied using the Latent Trait Analysis program -2 of Uebersax.
Results
The 32 different response patterns obtained from test batteries of five items produced 32 different quality of life scores ranging from 3 center dot 4% to 74 center dot 5% and 32 different levels of peripheral vascular disease ranging from 9 center dot 9% to 83 center dot 5% with overall mean scores, by definition, of 50%, whereas the classical method of analysis produced the discrete scores of only 0-5. The item response models produced an adequate fit for the data as demonstrated by chi-square goodness of fit values/degrees of freedom of 0 center dot 86 and 0 center dot 64.
Conclusions
1 Quality of life assessments and diagnostic tests can be analysed through item response modelling, and provide more sensitivity than do classical linear models.
2 Item response modelling can change largely qualitative data into fairly accurate quantitative data, and can, even with limited sets of items, produce fairly accurate frequency distribution patterns of quality of life, severity of disease and other latent traits.

• 出版日期2010-10