Determining a transitional scoring link between PROMIS® pediatric and adult physical health measures

Authors

David S. Tulsky, University of Delaware
Pamela A. Kisala, University of Delaware
Aaron J. Boulton, University of Delaware
Alan M. Jette, MGH Institute of Health Professions
David M. Thissen, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Pengsheng Ni, Boston University School of Public Health
Darren A. DeWalt, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I-Chan Huang, University of Florida - Gainesville
Yang Liu, University of Maryland - College Park
M. J. Mulcahey, Thomas Jefferson University
Mary Slavin, Boston University School of Public Health
Brooke E. Magnus, Marquette UniversityFollow
Holly Crump, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Robin Hanks, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
Susan Charlifue, Craig Hospital
Bryce B. Reeve, Duke University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

5-2019

Publisher

Springer Nature

Source Publication

Quality of Life Research

Source ISSN

0962-9343

Abstract

Purpose

Having independent versions of the PROMIS® scales (for Pediatric and Adults) is problematic as scores cannot be evaluated longitudinally as individuals move from childhood into adulthood. The primary aim of this research project is to use item response theory (IRT) to develop a transitional scoring link (or “crosswalk”) between the PROMIS adult and pediatric physical health measures.

Setting

Sample 1 was collected at 6 rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S., and participants in Sample 2 were recruited from public health insurance programs and an online research panel.

Methods

PROMIS pediatric and adult physical function, mobility, upper extremity, fatigue, and pain measures were administered to a sample of 874 individuals aged 14–20 years old with special health needs and a sample of 641 individuals aged 14–25 years with a disability. IRT-based scores were linked using a linear approximation to calibrated projection.

Results

Estimated latent variable correlations ranged between 0.84 and 0.95 for the PROMIS pediatric and adult scores. Root Expected Mean Square Difference values were below the 0.08 threshold in all cases except when comparing genders on the Mobility (0.097) and Pain (0.10) scales in the special health care needs sample. Sum score conversion tables for the pediatric and adult PROMIS measures are presented.

Conclusions

The linking coefficients can be used to calculate scale scores on PROMIS adult measures from pediatric measure scores and vice versa. This may lead to more accurate measurement in cross-sectional studies spanning multiple age groups or longitudinal studies that require comparable measurement across distinct developmental stages.

Comments

Accepted version. Quality of Life Research, Vol. 28 (2019): 1217-1229. DOI. © 2019 Springer Nature. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Tulsky, David S.; Kisala, Pamela A.; Boulton, Aaron J.; Jette, Alan M.; Thissen, David M.; Ni, Pengsheng; DeWalt, Darren A.; Huang, I-Chan; Liu, Yang; Mulcahey, M. J.; Slavin, Mary; Magnus, Brooke E.; Crump, Holly; Hanks, Robin; Charlifue, Susan; and Reeve, Bryce B., "Determining a transitional scoring link between PROMIS® pediatric and adult physical health measures" (2019). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 455.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/455