Abstract
Background The assessment of symptoms distress is an important strategy for symptoms management and treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC); however, appropriate instruments are limited. Objective The objective of this study was to validate a symptoms distress scale (SDS) by confirming the appropriateness of each item using item response theory. Methods A cross-sectional and convenience sampling was conducted to recruit eligible cirrhotic outpatients from the gastroenterology outpatient department of a single medical university hospital. In total, 163 patients with LC completed the 21-item SDS. A graded response model with two-parameter (discrimination and difficulty) estimation was used for data analysis. Results The item response theory model identified the validity of the SDS and found that most of the items in the SDS represented a high level of symptoms distress; moreover, three items of bruising, drowsiness, and dark urine were reported in cirrhotic patients with severe symptom distress. Four items comprising bodily pain, right upper quadrant pain, muscle cramps, and change in appearance can be appropriately represented in cirrhotic patients with mild symptoms distress. Moreover, the amount of test information in the SDS was >0.70, indicating acceptable reliability. Discussion Items of the SDS can be useful for assessing different levels of symptoms distress; however, using the scale to assess mild symptoms distress in populations with LC should be done with great caution.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 359-368 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Nursing Research |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- ascites
- complications
- hepatic encephalopathy
- hypoalbuminemia
- item response theory
- liver cirrhosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nursing(all)
Cite this
Validation of a symptoms distress scale in a cirrhotic population using item response theory. / Huang, Hui Chuan; Chen, Ming Yao; Hsieh, Li Wen; Chiu, Hsiao Yean; Miao, Nae Fang; Wu, Chia Shin; Lin, Kuan Chia.
In: Nursing Research, Vol. 67, No. 5, 01.09.2018, p. 359-368.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of a symptoms distress scale in a cirrhotic population using item response theory
AU - Huang, Hui Chuan
AU - Chen, Ming Yao
AU - Hsieh, Li Wen
AU - Chiu, Hsiao Yean
AU - Miao, Nae Fang
AU - Wu, Chia Shin
AU - Lin, Kuan Chia
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - Background The assessment of symptoms distress is an important strategy for symptoms management and treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC); however, appropriate instruments are limited. Objective The objective of this study was to validate a symptoms distress scale (SDS) by confirming the appropriateness of each item using item response theory. Methods A cross-sectional and convenience sampling was conducted to recruit eligible cirrhotic outpatients from the gastroenterology outpatient department of a single medical university hospital. In total, 163 patients with LC completed the 21-item SDS. A graded response model with two-parameter (discrimination and difficulty) estimation was used for data analysis. Results The item response theory model identified the validity of the SDS and found that most of the items in the SDS represented a high level of symptoms distress; moreover, three items of bruising, drowsiness, and dark urine were reported in cirrhotic patients with severe symptom distress. Four items comprising bodily pain, right upper quadrant pain, muscle cramps, and change in appearance can be appropriately represented in cirrhotic patients with mild symptoms distress. Moreover, the amount of test information in the SDS was >0.70, indicating acceptable reliability. Discussion Items of the SDS can be useful for assessing different levels of symptoms distress; however, using the scale to assess mild symptoms distress in populations with LC should be done with great caution.
AB - Background The assessment of symptoms distress is an important strategy for symptoms management and treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC); however, appropriate instruments are limited. Objective The objective of this study was to validate a symptoms distress scale (SDS) by confirming the appropriateness of each item using item response theory. Methods A cross-sectional and convenience sampling was conducted to recruit eligible cirrhotic outpatients from the gastroenterology outpatient department of a single medical university hospital. In total, 163 patients with LC completed the 21-item SDS. A graded response model with two-parameter (discrimination and difficulty) estimation was used for data analysis. Results The item response theory model identified the validity of the SDS and found that most of the items in the SDS represented a high level of symptoms distress; moreover, three items of bruising, drowsiness, and dark urine were reported in cirrhotic patients with severe symptom distress. Four items comprising bodily pain, right upper quadrant pain, muscle cramps, and change in appearance can be appropriately represented in cirrhotic patients with mild symptoms distress. Moreover, the amount of test information in the SDS was >0.70, indicating acceptable reliability. Discussion Items of the SDS can be useful for assessing different levels of symptoms distress; however, using the scale to assess mild symptoms distress in populations with LC should be done with great caution.
KW - ascites
KW - complications
KW - hepatic encephalopathy
KW - hypoalbuminemia
KW - item response theory
KW - liver cirrhosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053339376&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85053339376&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000296
DO - 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000296
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85053339376
VL - 67
SP - 359
EP - 368
JO - Nursing Research
JF - Nursing Research
SN - 0029-6562
IS - 5
ER -