Ruth M A van Nispen1, Michiel R de Boer, Ger H M B van Rens. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.vannispen@vumc.nl
Abstract
PURPOSE: To present psychometric information and studies dealing with questionnaires for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and visually impaired patients in addition to the study by Finger et al. "Quality of life in AMD: a review of available vision-specific psychometric tools". We propose that their literature search should not have focused solely on the specific eye disease AMD. METHODS: The literature search was partly replicated (PubMed) by using "visual impairment" instead of "macular degeneration" as free text words. Psychometric information was obtained from the additional studies. Preliminary results from a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis used to examine the relationship between item responses on the Vision-related quality of life Core Measure (VCM1) of AMD patients versus patients with other eye conditions are discussed. RESULTS: Eight studies of visually impaired patient populations, including AMD patients, are discussed, with psychometric information from six vision-specific questionnaires. The VCM1 items did not present DIF, which means that the items were equally interpreted by all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results on DIF and the additional studies presented here confirm that a specific eye disorder is of minor importance in the choice of a vision-specific questionnaire or, in this case, a literature search.
PURPOSE: To present psychometric information and studies dealing with questionnaires for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and visually impairedpatients in addition to the study by Finger et al. "Quality of life in AMD: a review of available vision-specific psychometric tools". We propose that their literature search should not have focused solely on the specific eye disease AMD. METHODS: The literature search was partly replicated (PubMed) by using "visual impairment" instead of "macular degeneration" as free text words. Psychometric information was obtained from the additional studies. Preliminary results from a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis used to examine the relationship between item responses on the Vision-related quality of life Core Measure (VCM1) of AMDpatients versus patients with other eye conditions are discussed. RESULTS: Eight studies of visually impairedpatient populations, including AMDpatients, are discussed, with psychometric information from six vision-specific questionnaires. The VCM1 items did not present DIF, which means that the items were equally interpreted by all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results on DIF and the additional studies presented here confirm that a specific eye disorder is of minor importance in the choice of a vision-specific questionnaire or, in this case, a literature search.
Authors: M R de Boer; C B Terwee; H C W de Vet; A C Moll; H J M Völker-Dieben; G H M B van Rens Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Maaike Langelaan; Ruth M A van Nispen; Dirk L Knol; Annette C Moll; Michiel R de Boer; Bill Wouters; Ger H M B van Rens Journal: Optom Vis Sci Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 1.973
Authors: Michiel R de Boer; Henrica C W de Vet; Caroline B Terwee; Annette C Moll; Hennie J M Völker-Dieben; Ger H M B van Rens Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2005-09-12 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Michiel R de Boer; Annette C Moll; Henrica C W de Vet; Caroline B Terwee; Hennie J M Völker-Dieben; Ger H M B van Rens Journal: Ophthalmic Physiol Opt Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Ruth M A van Nispen; Dirk L Knol; Maaike Langelaan; Michiel R de Boer; Caroline B Terwee; Ger H M B van Rens Journal: Optom Vis Sci Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 1.973