Linking the activity measure for post acute care and the quality of life outcomes in neurological disorders

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Oct;92(10 Suppl):S37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.01.026.

Abstract

Objective: To use item response theory (IRT) methods to link physical functioning items in the Activity Measure for Post Acute Care (AM-PAC) and the Quality of Life Outcomes in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QOL).

Design: Secondary data analysis of the physical functioning items of AM-PAC and Neuro-QOL. We used a nonequivalent group design with 36 core items common to both instruments and a test characteristic curve transformation method for linking AM-PAC and Neuro-QOL scores. Linking was conducted so that both raw and scaled AM-PAC and Neuro-QOL scores (mean ± SD converted-logit scores, 50 ± 10) could be compared.

Setting: AM-PAC items were administered to rehabilitation patients in post-acute care (PAC) settings. Neuro-QOL items were administered to a community sample of adults through the Internet.

Participants: PAC patients (N=1041) for the AM-PAC sample and community-dwelling adults (N=549) for the Neuro-QOL sample.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Mobility (N=25) and activity of daily living (ADL) items (N=11) common to both instruments were included in analysis.

Results: Neuro-QOL items were linked to the AM-PAC scale by using the generalized partial credit model. Mobility and ADL subscale scores from the 2 instruments were calibrated to the AM-PAC metric.

Conclusions: An IRT-based linking method placed AM-PAC and Neuro-QOL mobility and ADL scores on a common metric. This linking allowed estimation of AM-PAC mobility and ADL subscale scores based on Neuro-QOL mobility and ADL subscale scores and vice versa. The accuracy of these results should be validated in a future sample in which participants respond to both instruments.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Acute Disease
  • Calibration
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Information Systems*
  • Internet
  • Male
  • National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
  • Nervous System Diseases / rehabilitation*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Rehabilitation / standards*
  • Self Disclosure
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States