@article {34, title = {Developing an initial physical function item bank from existing sources}, journal = {Journal of Applied Measurement}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, year = {2003}, note = {1529-7713Journal Article}, pages = {124-36}, abstract = {The objective of this article is to illustrate incremental item banking using health-related quality of life data collected from two samples of patients receiving cancer treatment. The kinds of decisions one faces in establishing an item bank for computerized adaptive testing are also illustrated. Pre-calibration procedures include: identifying common items across databases; creating a new database with data from each pool; reverse-scoring "negative" items; identifying rating scales used in items; identifying pivot points in each rating scale; pivot anchoring items at comparable rating scale categories; and identifying items in each instrument that measure the construct of interest. A series of calibrations were conducted in which a small proportion of new items were added to the common core and misfitting items were identified and deleted until an initial item bank has been developed.}, keywords = {*Databases, *Sickness Impact Profile, Adaptation, Psychological, Data Collection, Humans, Neoplasms/*physiopathology/psychology/therapy, Psychometrics, Quality of Life/*psychology, Research Support, U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, P.H.S., United States}, author = {Bode, R. K. and Cella, D. and Lai, J. S. and Heinemann, A. W.} } @article {48, title = {Advances in quality of life measurements in oncology patients}, journal = {Seminars in Oncology}, volume = {29}, number = {3 Suppl 8}, year = {2002}, note = {0093-7754 (Print)Journal ArticleReview}, month = {Jun}, pages = {60-8}, abstract = {Accurate assessment of the quality of life (QOL) of patients can provide important clinical information to physicians, especially in the area of oncology. Changes in QOL are important indicators of the impact of a new cytotoxic therapy, can affect a patient{\textquoteright}s willingness to continue treatment, and may aid in defining response in the absence of quantifiable endpoints such as tumor regression. Because QOL is becoming an increasingly important aspect in the management of patients with malignant disease, it is vital that the instruments used to measure QOL are reliable and accurate. Assessment of QOL involves a multidimensional approach that includes physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being, and the most comprehensive instruments measure at least three of these domains. Instruments to measure QOL can be generic (eg, the Nottingham Health Profile), targeted toward specific illnesses (eg, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lung), or be a combination of generic and targeted. Two of the most widely used examples of the combination, or hybrid, instruments are the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Items and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy. A consequence of the increasing international collaboration in clinical trials has been the growing necessity for instruments that are valid across languages and cultures. To assure the continuing reliability and validity of QOL instruments in this regard, item response theory can be applied. Techniques such as item response theory may be used in the future to construct QOL item banks containing large sets of validated questions that represent various levels of QOL domains. As QOL becomes increasingly important in understanding and approaching the overall management of cancer patients, the tools available to clinicians and researchers to assess QOL will continue to evolve. While the instruments currently available provide reliable and valid measurement, further improvements in precision and application are anticipated.}, keywords = {*Quality of Life, *Sickness Impact Profile, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Culture, Humans, Language, Neoplasms/*physiopathology, Questionnaires}, author = {Cella, D. and Chang, C-H. and Lai, J. S. and Webster, K.} }