@booklet {154, title = {Cross-cultural development of an item list for computer-adaptive testing of fatigue in oncological patients}, journal = {Health and Quality of Life Outcomes}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, year = {2011}, note = {Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2011 Mar 29;9(1):19.}, month = {March 29, 2011}, pages = {10}, edition = {2011/03/31}, abstract = {ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Within an ongoing project of the EORTC Quality of Life Group, we are developing computerized adaptive test (CAT) measures for the QLQ-C30 scales. These new CAT measures are conceptualised to reflect the same constructs as the QLQ-C30 scales. Accordingly, the Fatigue-CAT is intended to capture physical and general fatigue. METHODS: The EORTC approach to CAT development comprises four phases (literature search, operationalisation, pre-testing, and field testing). Phases I-III are described in detail in this paper. A literature search for fatigue items was performed in major medical databases. After refinement through several expert panels, the remaining items were used as the basis for adapting items and/or formulating new items fitting the EORTC item style. To obtain feedback from patients with cancer, these English items were translated into Danish, French, German, and Spanish and tested in the respective countries. RESULTS: Based on the literature search a list containing 588 items was generated. After a comprehensive item selection procedure focusing on content, redundancy, item clarity and item difficulty a list of 44 fatigue items was generated. Patient interviews (n=52) resulted in 12 revisions of wording and translations. DISCUSSION: The item list developed in phases I-III will be further investigated within a field-testing phase (IV) to examine psychometric characteristics and to fit an item response theory model. The Fatigue CAT based on this item bank will provide scores that are backward-compatible to the original QLQ-C30 fatigue scale.}, isbn = {1477-7525 (Electronic)1477-7525 (Linking)}, author = {Giesinger, J. M. and Petersen, M. A. and Groenvold, M. and Aaronson, N. K. and Arraras, J. I. and Conroy, T. and Gamper, E. M. and Kemmler, G. and King, M. T. and Oberguggenberger, A. S. and Velikova, G. and Young, T. and Holzner, B. and Eortc-Qlg, E. O.} } @article {312, title = {Development of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for the EORTC QLQ-C30 physical functioning dimension}, journal = {Quality of Life Research }, volume = {20}, number = {4}, year = {2010}, note = {Qual Life Res. 2010 Oct 23.}, pages = {479-490}, edition = {2010/10/26}, abstract = {PURPOSE: Computerized adaptive test (CAT) methods, based on item response theory (IRT), enable a patient-reported outcome instrument to be adapted to the individual patient while maintaining direct comparability of scores. The EORTC Quality of Life Group is developing a CAT version of the widely used EORTC QLQ-C30. We present the development and psychometric validation of the item pool for the first of the scales, physical functioning (PF). METHODS: Initial developments (including literature search and patient and expert evaluations) resulted in 56 candidate items. Responses to these items were collected from 1,176 patients with cancer from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The items were evaluated with regard to psychometric properties. RESULTS: Evaluations showed that 31 of the items could be included in a unidimensional IRT model with acceptable fit and good content coverage, although the pool may lack items at the upper extreme (good PF). There were several findings of significant differential item functioning (DIF). However, the DIF findings appeared to have little impact on the PF estimation. CONCLUSIONS: We have established an item pool for CAT measurement of PF and believe that this CAT instrument will clearly improve the EORTC measurement of PF.}, isbn = {1573-2649 (Electronic)0962-9343 (Linking)}, author = {Petersen, M. A. and Groenvold, M. and Aaronson, N. K. and Chie, W. C. and Conroy, T. and Costantini, A. and Fayers, P. and Helbostad, J. and Holzner, B. and Kaasa, S. and Singer, S. and Velikova, G. and Young, T.} } @article {363, title = {The initial development of an item bank to assess and screen for psychological distress in cancer patients}, journal = {Psycho-Oncology}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, year = {2007}, note = {10.1002/pon.1117Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal; Journal Article}, pages = {724-732}, abstract = {Psychological distress is a common problem among cancer patients. Despite the large number of instruments that have been developed to assess distress, their utility remains disappointing. This study aimed to use Rasch models to develop an item-bank which would provide the basis for better means of assessing psychological distress in cancer patients. An item bank was developed from eight psychological distress questionnaires using Rasch analysis to link common items. Items from the questionnaires were added iteratively with common items as anchor points and misfitting items (infit mean square > 1.3) removed, and unidimensionality assessed. A total of 4914 patients completed the questionnaires providing an initial pool of 83 items. Twenty items were removed resulting in a final pool of 63 items. Good fit was demonstrated and no additional factor structure was evident from the residuals. However, there was little overlap between item locations and person measures, since items mainly targeted higher levels of distress. The Rasch analysis allowed items to be pooled and generated a unidimensional instrument for measuring psychological distress in cancer patients. Additional items are required to more accurately assess patients across the whole continuum of psychological distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA ) (journal abstract)}, keywords = {3293 Cancer, cancer patients, Distress, initial development, Item Response Theory, Models, Neoplasms, Patients, Psychological, psychological distress, Rasch, Stress}, isbn = {1057-9249}, author = {Smith, A. B. and Rush, R. and Velikova, G. and Wall, L. and Wright, E. P. and Stark, D. and Selby, P. and Sharpe, M.} }