Item bank development, calibration and validation for patient-reported outcomes in female urinary incontinence

Vivian W. Sung*, James W. Griffith, Rebecca G. Rogers, Christina A. Raker, Melissa A. Clark

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Current patient-reported outcomes for female urinary incontinence (UI) are limited by their inability to be tailored. Our objective is to describe the development and field testing of seven item banks designed to measure domains identified as important UI in females (UIf). We also describe the calibration and validation properties of the UIf-item banks, which allow for more efficient computerized adaptive testing (CAT) in the future. Methods: The UIf-measures included 168 items covering seven domains: Stress UI (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB), urinary frequency, physical, social and emotional health impact and adaptation. Items underwent rigorous qualitative development and psychometric testing across two sites. Items were calibrated using item response theory and evaluated for internal consistency, construct validity and responsiveness. Results: A total of 750 women (249 SUI, 249 OAB and 252 mixed UI) participated. Mean age was 55 ± 14 years, and 23 % were Hispanic and 80 % white. In addition to face and content validity, the measures demonstrated good internal consistency (coefficient alpha 0.92–0.98) and unidimensionality. There was evidence for construct validity with moderate-to-strong correlations with the UDI (r’s ≥ 0.6) and IIQ (r’s = ≥0.6) scales. The measures were responsive to change for SUI treatment (paired t test p < .001, ES range 1.3–2.9; SRM range 1.3–2.5) and OAB treatment (paired t test p < .05 for all domains except social health impact and adaptation, ES range 0.3–1.5, SRM range 0.4–1.0). The measures were responsive based on concurrent changes with the UDI and IIQ (p < 0.05). CAT versions were developed and pilot-tested. Conclusions: The UIf-item banks demonstrate good psychometric characteristics and are a sufficiently valid set of customizable tools for measuring UI symptoms and life impact.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1645-1654
Number of pages10
JournalQuality of Life Research
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2016

Funding

Dr. Sung and this work are supported by Grant K23HD060665 and R21HD069962 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health. This research was also supported in part through the computational resources and staff contributions provided for the Social Sciences Computing Cluster (SSCC) at Northwestern University. Recurring funding for the SSCC is provided by Office of the President, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, the School of Continuing Studies and Northwestern University Information Technology. Dr. Sung and this work are supported by Grant K23HD060665 and R21HD069962 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health. This research was also supported in part through the computational resources and staff contributions provided for the Social Sciences Computing Cluster (SSCC) at Northwestern University. Recurring funding for the SSCC is provided by Office of the President, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, the School of Continuing Studies and Northwestern University Information Technology.

Keywords

  • Computerized adaptive test
  • Female
  • Item response theory
  • Patient outcome assessments
  • Patient-centered outcomes research
  • Psychometrics
  • Quality of life
  • Urinary incontinence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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