Validating, Improving Reliability, and Estimating Correlation of the Four Subscales in the WHOQOL-BREF using Multidimensional Rasch Analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the construct validity, and improved the test reliability and the estimation accuracy for the correlation between domains of the WHOQOL-BREF using multidimensional Rasch analysis. Method: A total of 13,083 adults were administered the 28-item WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version, which consists of 4 subscales (domains). The multidimensional form of the partial credit model was used to examine the fit of the 4 subscales. For comparison, each subscale individually was also fitted to the unidimensional partial credit model. Standard item fit statistics and analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) were used to check model-data fit. Results: After excluding 2 overall items and deleting 7 DIF items, the remaining items of each subscale in the WHOQOL-BREF constituted a single construct. The test reliabilities and correlations between domains obtained from the multidimensional approach, (0.82-0.86) and (0.79-0.89), respectively, were much higher than those obtained from the unidimensional approach, (0.67-0.75) and (0.53-0.65), respectively. Conclusion: The 19-item WHOQOL-BREF measures more succinct latent traits than the original design. The multidimensional approach yields not only more accurate estimates for the correlation between domains but also substantially higher reliabilities, than the standard unidimensional approach.

A percepção de qualidade de vida de pessoas portadoras de deficiência física pode ser influenciada pela prática de atividade física?

“…Em relação à qualidade de vida, os diversos trabalhos publicados até aos dias de hoje referiram-se às propriedades psicométricas do WHOQOL (13,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22) , bem como à utilização do mesmo em amostras de pacientes psiquiátricos ou em estado de internação (23)(24)(25)(26)(27) e na população idosa (28)(29)(30) . O Brasil é um país onde parcela significativa da população (14,5%) é portadora de algum tipo de deficiência (31) .…”

Development and validation of a WHOQOL-BREF Taiwanese audio player-assisted interview version for the elderly who use a spoken dialect

“…The Mandarin Chinese version of the WHOQOL-BREF currently exists in Taiwan [7][8][9]. However, this tool cannot be applied to more than half of elderly Taiwanese aged over 65 years old [10], who speak only the Taiwanese dialect [11].…”

Validation of the Spanish adaptation of the School Atitude Assessment Survey-Revised using multidimensional Rasch analysis

“…As suggested by previous researchers (Wang, Yao, Tsai, Wang, & Hsieh, 2006), a difference equal to or larger than 0.5 logits was regarded as evidence of substantial DIF. The results showed indicated that no substantial DIF was found.…”

“…The multidimensional approach could calibrate all subscale at the same time, and increase the measurement precision by taking into account the correlations between subscales (Wang, Yao, Tsai, Wang, & Hsieh, 2006). It can be observed in Table 4 that the correlations among subscales ranged from .52 to .73, showing medium to high correlation levels.…”