Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies
Abstract Background Whether in the context of monitoring disease progression or in assessing the effects of interventions, a major challenge in dementia research is determining when an individual has undergone meaningful change in symptoms and other relevant outcomes such as cognitive test performan...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00768-w |
| _version_ | 1819296913709596672 |
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| author | Aja Louise Murray Marlena Vollmer Ian J. Deary Graciela Muniz-Terrera Tom Booth |
| author_facet | Aja Louise Murray Marlena Vollmer Ian J. Deary Graciela Muniz-Terrera Tom Booth |
| author_sort | Aja Louise Murray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Whether in the context of monitoring disease progression or in assessing the effects of interventions, a major challenge in dementia research is determining when an individual has undergone meaningful change in symptoms and other relevant outcomes such as cognitive test performance. The challenge lies in differentiating genuine improvement or deterioration from change in scores due to random and systematic error. Body In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of available methods for assessing individual-level change in the context of key challenges, including imperfect and differential reliability of scores, and practice effects. We discuss indices of reliable change and the use of composite and item response theory (IRT) scores. Conclusion We conclude that IRT-based approaches hold particular promise because they have the flexibility to accommodate solutions to a wide range of issues that influence the accuracy of judgements of meaningful change. We close by discussing the practical implications of adopting IRT-based approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:05:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dea71dede1fe48139e08967720ff3ad1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1758-9193 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:05:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-dea71dede1fe48139e08967720ff3ad12022-12-21T17:13:49ZengBMCAlzheimer’s Research & Therapy1758-91932021-01-0113111310.1186/s13195-021-00768-wAssessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologiesAja Louise Murray0Marlena Vollmer1Ian J. Deary2Graciela Muniz-Terrera3Tom Booth4Department of Psychology, University of EdinburghDepartment of Psychology, University of EdinburghDepartment of Psychology, University of EdinburghCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Centre for Dementia Prevention, University of EdinburghDepartment of Psychology, University of EdinburghAbstract Background Whether in the context of monitoring disease progression or in assessing the effects of interventions, a major challenge in dementia research is determining when an individual has undergone meaningful change in symptoms and other relevant outcomes such as cognitive test performance. The challenge lies in differentiating genuine improvement or deterioration from change in scores due to random and systematic error. Body In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of available methods for assessing individual-level change in the context of key challenges, including imperfect and differential reliability of scores, and practice effects. We discuss indices of reliable change and the use of composite and item response theory (IRT) scores. Conclusion We conclude that IRT-based approaches hold particular promise because they have the flexibility to accommodate solutions to a wide range of issues that influence the accuracy of judgements of meaningful change. We close by discussing the practical implications of adopting IRT-based approaches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00768-wAlzheimer’sDementiaReliable changeIndividual-level changeItem response theory |
| spellingShingle | Aja Louise Murray Marlena Vollmer Ian J. Deary Graciela Muniz-Terrera Tom Booth Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy Alzheimer’s Dementia Reliable change Individual-level change Item response theory |
| title | Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies |
| title_full | Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies |
| title_fullStr | Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies |
| title_short | Assessing individual-level change in dementia research: a review of methodologies |
| title_sort | assessing individual level change in dementia research a review of methodologies |
| topic | Alzheimer’s Dementia Reliable change Individual-level change Item response theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00768-w |
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