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Psychometric properties of self-administered Lequesne Algofunctional Indexes in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis: an evaluation using classical test theory and Rasch analysis

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to perform a psychometric analysis of the Lequesne Algofunctional Indexes (LAI) for the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip (LAI-hip) and knee (LAI-knee), using classical test theory (CTT) and Rasch analysis. Questionnaires were completed by 1,214 patients with symptomatic OA of the knee (n = 697) and hip (n = 517). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and an item-to-total correlation. Dimensionality was investigated with a factor analysis. Raw scores underwent Rasch analysis. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.84 for LAI-hip and 0.82 for LAI-knee. LAI-hip resulted in unidimensionality according to the factor analysis, while LAI-knee supported both a single and a two-factor solution (items 1–6b and 7–10, respectively). At Rasch analysis, the rating categories of item ‘maximum distance walked’ did not comply with the criteria for category functioning in either LAI-hip or LAI-knee. A test of the residual correlation showed item dependency in both LAI-hip and LAI-knee. Misfitting items were present in both the scales. According to both CTT and Rasch analysis, in our two samples representing a wide spectrum of both hip and knee OA severity the LAI-hip and LAI-knee showed a series of drawbacks, which rendered both questionnaires inadequate in relation to their metric properties and severely limit their ability to perform, as a composite measure, in line with the main aims of their developers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the members of the MI.D.A Study Group [28] for their contribution to the acquisition of data, as follows: Adami S., Arioli Giovanni, Avossa Marco, Bazzicchi Laura, Beghè Franco, Beltrametti Paolo, Bentivenga Crescenzo, Benucci, Maurizio, Bernini Luigi, Bertolucci Daniela, Blasetti Patrizia, Bombardieri S., Bordin Giorgio, Bortolotti Giuseppe, Bozzolan Fabiola, Broggini Marco, Bucci Romano, Calcagnile Fabio, Calligaro Antonella, Cammelli Daniele, Cantatore F.P., Cimmino M.A., Iannone Francesco, Carignola Renato, Carlino Giorgio, Casari Silvia, Casilli Oriana Elena, Castelnuovo Aurelio, Cecchetti Riccardo, Cesaro Gianni, Ciancio Giovanni, Colombo Fulvio, Consonni Luigi, Covelli, Michele, Cozzi Luisella, Cozzolongo Anna Carla, Crafa Silvana, Davoli Camillo, Del Ross Teresa, Del Vino Piergiorgio, Di Giacinto Giovanni, Di Giuseppe Paolo, Filardi Piergiuseppe, Francioni Cinzia, Fusaro Enrico, Giorgio Gandolini, Gorla Roberto, Govoni Marcello, Grattagliano Vito, Laganà Angela, Lapadula G, Lazzarin Paolo, Leucci Pierfrancesco, Levi Marina, Limonta Massimiliano, Lombardini Francesco, Longhi Marco, Lopez Vincenzo, Lubrano Ennio, Malatesta Renato, Manfredini Monica, Manganelli Paolo, Mannoni Alessandro, Marchetta Antonio, Marin Gabriella, Marsico Antonio, Mascia Maria Teresa, Massarotti Marco, Mastaglio Claudio, Minosi Armando, Miserocchi Fabio, Moreno Mauro, Muratore Maurizio, Murgo Antonella, Ortolani Sergio, Olivieri Ignazio, Paolazzi Giuseppe, Pellerito Raffaele, Peronato Giovanni, Pianon Margherita, Punzi L., Ramonda Roberta, Rastelli Emilio, Reta Massimo, Rizzi Massimo, Rocchetta Pier Andrea, Rossi Fulvia, Rossini Maurizio, Sabadini Luciano, Santo Leonardo, Sarzi-Puttini Piercarlo, Saviola Gianantonio, Scendoni Pietro, Sconosciuto Carmelo, Semmola Maria Vittoria, Tamburrino Vitalba, Terlizzi Nicola, Viardi Luigi, Volante Daniela, Zuccaro Carmelo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Veruno, Novara, Italy

    Franco Franchignoni, Andrea Giordano & Marcella Ottonello

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Politechnic University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Fausto Salaffi & Alessandro Ciapetti

  3. Department of Radiology, Politechnic University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Marina Carotti

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  1. Franco Franchignoni
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  2. Fausto Salaffi
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Correspondence to Fausto Salaffi or Alessandro Ciapetti.

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Franchignoni, F., Salaffi, F., Giordano, A. et al. Psychometric properties of self-administered Lequesne Algofunctional Indexes in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis: an evaluation using classical test theory and Rasch analysis. Clin Rheumatol 31, 113–121 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-011-1788-0

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