Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.

<h4>Introduction</h4>The outcomes anxiety and depression are measured frequently by healthcare providers to assess the impact of a disease, but with numerous instruments. PROMIS item banks provide an opportunity for standardized measurement. Cross-cultural validity of measures and the av...

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Main Authors: Ellen B M Elsman, Gerard Flens, Edwin de Beurs, Leo D Roorda, Caroline B Terwee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273287
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author Ellen B M Elsman
Gerard Flens
Edwin de Beurs
Leo D Roorda
Caroline B Terwee
author_facet Ellen B M Elsman
Gerard Flens
Edwin de Beurs
Leo D Roorda
Caroline B Terwee
author_sort Ellen B M Elsman
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Introduction</h4>The outcomes anxiety and depression are measured frequently by healthcare providers to assess the impact of a disease, but with numerous instruments. PROMIS item banks provide an opportunity for standardized measurement. Cross-cultural validity of measures and the availability of reference values are prerequisites for standardized measurement.<h4>Methods</h4>PROMIS Anxiety and Depression item banks were completed by 1002 representative Dutch persons. To evaluate cross-cultural validity, data from US participants in PROMIS wave 1 were used and differential item functioning (DIF) was investigated, using an iterative hybrid of logistic regression and item response theory. McFadden's pseudo R2-change of 2% was the critical threshold. The impact of any DIF on full item banks and short forms was investigated. To obtain Dutch reference values, T-scores for anxiety and depression were calculated for the complete Dutch sample, and age-group and gender subpopulations. Thresholds corresponding to normal limits, mild, moderate and severe symptoms were computed.<h4>Results</h4>In both item banks, two items had DIF but with minimal impact on population level T-scores for full item banks and short forms. The Dutch general population had a T-score of 49.9 for anxiety and 49.6 for depression, similar to the T-scores of 50.0 of the US general population. T-scores for age-group and gender subpopulations were also similar to T-scores of the US general population. Thresholds for mild, moderate and severe anxiety and depression were set to 55, 60 and 70, identical to US thresholds.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The limited number of items with DIF and its minimal impact, enables the use of standard (US) item parameters and comparisons of scores between Dutch and US populations. The Dutch reference values provide an important tool for healthcare professionals and researchers to evaluate and interpret symptoms of anxiety and depression, stimulating the uptake of PROMIS measures, and contributing to standardized outcome measurement.
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spelling doaj.art-0349d0d2350f41ae883f54c2bdcc5dd72022-12-22T04:26:11ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01178e027328710.1371/journal.pone.0273287Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.Ellen B M ElsmanGerard FlensEdwin de BeursLeo D RoordaCaroline B Terwee<h4>Introduction</h4>The outcomes anxiety and depression are measured frequently by healthcare providers to assess the impact of a disease, but with numerous instruments. PROMIS item banks provide an opportunity for standardized measurement. Cross-cultural validity of measures and the availability of reference values are prerequisites for standardized measurement.<h4>Methods</h4>PROMIS Anxiety and Depression item banks were completed by 1002 representative Dutch persons. To evaluate cross-cultural validity, data from US participants in PROMIS wave 1 were used and differential item functioning (DIF) was investigated, using an iterative hybrid of logistic regression and item response theory. McFadden's pseudo R2-change of 2% was the critical threshold. The impact of any DIF on full item banks and short forms was investigated. To obtain Dutch reference values, T-scores for anxiety and depression were calculated for the complete Dutch sample, and age-group and gender subpopulations. Thresholds corresponding to normal limits, mild, moderate and severe symptoms were computed.<h4>Results</h4>In both item banks, two items had DIF but with minimal impact on population level T-scores for full item banks and short forms. The Dutch general population had a T-score of 49.9 for anxiety and 49.6 for depression, similar to the T-scores of 50.0 of the US general population. T-scores for age-group and gender subpopulations were also similar to T-scores of the US general population. Thresholds for mild, moderate and severe anxiety and depression were set to 55, 60 and 70, identical to US thresholds.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The limited number of items with DIF and its minimal impact, enables the use of standard (US) item parameters and comparisons of scores between Dutch and US populations. The Dutch reference values provide an important tool for healthcare professionals and researchers to evaluate and interpret symptoms of anxiety and depression, stimulating the uptake of PROMIS measures, and contributing to standardized outcome measurement.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273287
spellingShingle Ellen B M Elsman
Gerard Flens
Edwin de Beurs
Leo D Roorda
Caroline B Terwee
Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
PLoS ONE
title Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
title_full Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
title_fullStr Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
title_full_unstemmed Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
title_short Towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression: Differential item functioning for language and Dutch reference values of PROMIS item banks.
title_sort towards standardization of measuring anxiety and depression differential item functioning for language and dutch reference values of promis item banks
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273287
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