Roger L Brown1, Chidi N Obasi2, Bruce Barrett2. 1. University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, Research Design & Statistics Unit. 2. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to use Rasch analysis to explore the validity of considering self-report scores from Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-21) as a single global illness severity domain. The WURSS-21 is a widely used questionnaire instrument that assesses symptom severity and functional impact of common cold and flu-like illness. METHODS: This study applies item response theory, specifically Rasch modeling, to investigate dimensional and measurement properties of the WURSS-21, and looks at invariance over time. The data assessed represents 1167 people, each scoring the WURSS-21 once daily for up to seven consecutive days of acute upper respiratory infection (URI) illness. RESULTS: Rasch analysis supports a single domain WURSS-21 global symptom score. Assessment of differential item functioning across seven days of illness provides evidence for measurement invariance. While individual items rating physical symptoms were somewhat variable, items rating functional impairment and quality of life impact appeared quite consistent across a single domain over seven days of illness. CONCLUSION: Rasch analysis of WURSS-21 items provides evidential support for a single invariant domain. These findings support the practice of using a simply summed daily global illness severity score to represent the overall symptomatic and functional impairments arising from URI.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to use Rasch analysis to explore the validity of considering self-report scores from Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-21) as a single global illness severity domain. The WURSS-21 is a widely used questionnaire instrument that assesses symptom severity and functional impact of common cold and flu-like illness. METHODS: This study applies item response theory, specifically Rasch modeling, to investigate dimensional and measurement properties of the WURSS-21, and looks at invariance over time. The data assessed represents 1167 people, each scoring the WURSS-21 once daily for up to seven consecutive days of acute upper respiratory infection (URI) illness. RESULTS: Rasch analysis supports a single domain WURSS-21 global symptom score. Assessment of differential item functioning across seven days of illness provides evidence for measurement invariance. While individual items rating physical symptoms were somewhat variable, items rating functional impairment and quality of life impact appeared quite consistent across a single domain over seven days of illness. CONCLUSION: Rasch analysis of WURSS-21 items provides evidential support for a single invariant domain. These findings support the practice of using a simply summed daily global illness severity score to represent the overall symptomatic and functional impairments arising from URI.
Entities:
Keywords:
Common cold; Patient reported outcomes; Quality of life; URI; Validation
Authors: Bruce Barrett; Kristin Locken; Rob Maberry; Jason Schwamman; Roger Brown; Jim Bobula; Ellyn A Stauffacher Journal: J Fam Pract Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 0.493
Authors: Bruce Barrett; Mary S Hayney; Daniel Muller; David Rakel; Ann Ward; Chidi N Obasi; Roger Brown; Zhengjun Zhang; Aleksandra Zgierska; James Gern; Rebecca West; Tola Ewers; Shari Barlow; Michele Gassman; Christopher L Coe Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2012 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Noelle-Angelique M Molinari; Ismael R Ortega-Sanchez; Mark L Messonnier; William W Thompson; Pascale M Wortley; Eric Weintraub; Carolyn B Bridges Journal: Vaccine Date: 2007-04-20 Impact factor: 3.641
Authors: David R Murdoch; Sandy Slow; Stephen T Chambers; Lance C Jennings; Alistair W Stewart; Patricia C Priest; Christopher M Florkowski; John H Livesey; Carlos A Camargo; Robert Scragg Journal: JAMA Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Bruce Barrett; Roger Brown; Marlon Mundt; Nasia Safdar; Leota Dye; Rob Maberry; Jennifer Alt Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Bruce Barrett; Roger L Brown; Marlon P Mundt; Gay R Thomas; Shari K Barlow; Alex D Highstrom; Mozhdeh Bahrainian Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2009-08-12 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Bruce Barrett; Mary S Hayney; Daniel Muller; David Rakel; Roger Brown; Aleksandra E Zgierska; Shari Barlow; Supriya Hayer; Jodi H Barnet; Elisa R Torres; Christopher L Coe Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-06-22 Impact factor: 3.240