Abstract
Objective
If the assumption of measurement invariance is not tested, we cannot be sure whether differences observed are due to true
differences in health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), or are measurement artifacts. We aim to investigate this assumption
in a sample of heterogeneous cancer patients, focusing on whether age, sex, previous treatment for cancer, and information
regarding treatment preferences result in biased HRQoL scores.
differences in health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), or are measurement artifacts. We aim to investigate this assumption
in a sample of heterogeneous cancer patients, focusing on whether age, sex, previous treatment for cancer, and information
regarding treatment preferences result in biased HRQoL scores.
Results
A satisfactory single construct (Functioning HRQoL) measurement model was found and two violations of invariance were identified.
Irrespective of patients’ Functioning HRQoL, older patients reported worse physical functioning and patients who had received
treatment prior to radiotherapy reported worse emotional functioning than we would otherwise expect.
Irrespective of patients’ Functioning HRQoL, older patients reported worse physical functioning and patients who had received
treatment prior to radiotherapy reported worse emotional functioning than we would otherwise expect.
Conclusions
In the present study, accounting for measurement bias lead to a substantial improvement in the overall fit of the model. By
ignoring the bias, we would have concluded that the model fit was unsatisfactory. The findings underline the importance of
investigating measurement invariance in scales designed for heterogeneous samples.
ignoring the bias, we would have concluded that the model fit was unsatisfactory. The findings underline the importance of
investigating measurement invariance in scales designed for heterogeneous samples.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-0094-2
- Authors
- Bellinda L. King-Kallimanis, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Claartje L. ter Hoeven, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Hanneke C. de Haes, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Ellen M. Smets, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Caro C. E. Koning, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Frans J. Oort, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343