Measurement invariance across chronic conditions: a systematic review and an empirical investigation of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ™)

Abstract

BackgroundTo examine whether lack of measurement invariance (MI) influences mean comparisons among different disease groups, this paper provides (1) a systematic review of MI in generic constructs across chronic conditions and (2) an empirical analysis of MI in the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ™).Methods(1) We searched for studies of MI among different chronic conditions in online databases. (2) Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were used to study MI among five chronic conditions (orthopedic condition, rheumatism, asthma, COPD, cancer) in the heiQ™ with N = 1404 rehabilitation inpatients. Impact on latent and composite mean differences was examined.Results(1) A total of 30 relevant studies suggested that about one in three items lacked MI. However, only four studies examined impact on latent mean differences. Scale means were only affected in one of these three studies. (2) Across the eight heiQ™ scales, seven scales had items with lack of MI in at least one disease group. However, in only two heiQ™ scales were some latent or composite mean differences affected.ConclusionsLack of MI among disease groups is common and may have a relevant influence on mean comparisons when using generic instruments. Therefore, when comparing disease groups, tests of MI should be implemented. More studies of MI and according impact on mean differences in generic questionnaires are needed.

Individual prevention courses for occupational skin diseases: changes in and relationships between proximal and distal outcomes

“…Generally, higher values in the scales indicate better status, except for ‘Emotional distress’, where higher values indicate higher distress. The heiQ™ was used to assess proximal outcomes of self‐management programmes for patients from different disease groups in inpatient and outpatient settings.…”

Making robust decisions about the impact of health education programs: Psychometric evaluation of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) in diverse patient groups in Norway

“…The final instrument has eight scales, which have been translated and culturally adapted into over 20 languages, and are currently being applied in clinical trials worldwide, including in Norway [12][13][14][15]. However, only a few studies have reported the psychometric performance of the heiQ in the diverse settings, in which it is being applied [16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Norwegian translation of the heiQ version 2.0 in diverse patient populations.…”

Determining the efficacy of the chronic disease self‐management programme and readability of ‘living a healthy life with chronic conditions’ in a New Zealand setting

“…It has been assessed for validity both in Australia and in Germany, where factorial elements were examined in about 1200 rehabilitation patients with a variety of chronic conditions. 15 Although using a sample that included different chronic conditions, this study suggested remarkably stable psychometric properties of the heiQ™ over time. 15 Our results suggest the CDSMP was effective in improving self-management behaviours, as shown by the heiQ™ results.…”

“…15 Although using a sample that included different chronic conditions, this study suggested remarkably stable psychometric properties of the heiQ™ over time. 15 Our results suggest the CDSMP was effective in improving self-management behaviours, as shown by the heiQ™ results. Health service navigation was the only domain that did not definitively show an improvement; all other domains had some degree of effect.…”

“…The heiQ TM is a questionnaire specifically designed to assess an education intervention for those with chronic conditions. It has been assessed for validity both in Australia and in Germany, where factorial elements were examined in about 1200 rehabilitation patients with a variety of chronic conditions . Although using a sample that included different chronic conditions, this study suggested remarkably stable psychometric properties of the heiQ™ over time …”