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. 2018 Jan;27(1):235-247.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1691-5. Epub 2017 Sep 5.

Differential item functioning by language on the PROMIS® physical functioning items for children and adolescents

Ron D Hays  1 , José Luis Calderón  2 , Karen L Spritzer  2 , Steve P Reise  3 , Sylvia H Paz  2
Affiliations

Differential item functioning by language on the PROMIS® physical functioning items for children and adolescents

Ron D Hays et al. Qual Life Res. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the equivalence of self-reports of physical functioning between pediatric respondents to the English- and Spanish-language patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS®) physical functioning item banks.

Methods: The PROMIS pediatric physical functioning item banks include 29 upper extremity items and 23 mobility items. A sample of 5091 children and adolescents (mean age = 12 years, range 8-17; 49% male) completed the English-language version of the items. A sample of 605 children and adolescents (mean age = 12 years, range 8-17; 55% male; 96% Hispanic) completed the Spanish-language version of the items.

Results: We found language (English versus Spanish) differential item functioning (DIF) for 4 upper extremity items and 7 mobility items. Product-moment correlations between estimated upper extremity and mobility scores using the English versus the equated Spanish item parameters for Spanish-language respondents were 0.98 and 0.99, respectively. After excluding cases with significant person misfit, we found DIF for the same 4 upper extremity items that had DIF in the full sample and for 12 mobility items (including the same 7 mobility items that had DIF in the full sample). The identification of DIF items between English- and Spanish-language respondents was affected slightly by excluding respondents displaying person misfit.

Conclusions: The results of this study provide support for measurement equivalence of self-reports of physical functioning by children and adolescents who completed the English- and Spanish-language surveys. Future analyses are needed to replicate the results of this study in other samples.

Keywords: Children and adolescent health; Differential item functioning; Person fit; Physical functioning.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
DIF Impact for Upper Extremity Items
Figure 2
Figure 2
DIF Impact at Individual Level – Upper Extremity Items
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation of CAT-based Trait-level Estimates Using English (x-axis) and Spanish (y-axis) Parameters for All 29 Upper Extremity Items in Spanish Sample (n=605)
Figure 4
Figure 4
DIF Impact for Mobility Items
Figure 5
Figure 5
DIF Impact at Individual Level – Mobility Items
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlation of CAT-based Trait-level Estimates Using English (x-axis) and Spanish (y-axis) Parameters for All 23 Mobility Items in Spanish Sample (n=605)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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