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Evaluating composite health measures using Rasch modelling: An illustrative example

  • Original Articles
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Sozial- und Präventivmedizin

Summary

Objectives

The purpose of the present article is to elucidate the opportunities provided by Rasch modelling in epidemiology and public health research in order to evaluate composite measures of health.

Methods

The article gives a review of Rasch modelling in conjunction with illustrative examples based on adolescent survey data.

Results

The article demonstrates how the Rasch-model enables examinations of the way items work across different samples/subgroups, e.g., detection of possible differential item functioning.

Conclusions

It is concluded that Rasch modelling may serve as a useful tool in the evaluation and the development of composite health measures intended to be used in epidemiology and public health research.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung

Zweck des vorliegenden Artikels ist es, die Möglichkeiten des Rasch-Modells in der epidemiologischen und Public-Health-Forschung zwecks Auswertung zusammengesetzter Gesundheitsmasse zu erläutern.

Methoden

Der Artikel bietet einen Überblick über das Rasch-Modell in Verbindung mit erläuternden Beispielen, die auf statistischen Daten von Erwachsenen basieren.

Resultate

Der Artikel zeigt, wie das Rasch-Modell die Möglichkeit bietet, die Wirkung einzelner Fragen bei verschiedenen Auswahl-bzw. Untergruppen zu überprüfen, d. h. die Aufdeckung unterschiedlicher Funktionen bei Fragen zu ermöglichen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Als Schlussfolgerung gilt, dass das Rasch-Modell als geeignetes Instrument bei der Auswertung und Entwicklung zusammengesetzter Gesundheitsmasse dienen kann, die in der epidemiologischen und Public-Health-Forschung verwendet werden sollen.

Résumé

Objectifs

L'objectif de cet article est d'éclairer les possibilités offertes par le modèle de Rasch en matière d'épidémiologie et de recherche en santé publique afin d'évaluer des mesures composites de santé.

Méthodes

L'article étudie le modèle de Rasch apartis de données provenant d'études avec les adolescents.

Résultats

Il montre comment le modéle de Rasch permet de comprendre la manière dont les différentes variables fonctionnet dans divers échantillons, c'est à dire de détecter le fonctionnement des écarts éventuels entre les differentes variables.

Conclusions

En conclusion, le modèle de Rasch peut constituer un outil très utile dans l'évaluation et le développement de mesures de santé composites utilisées en épidémiologie ainsi qu'en recherche dans le domaine de la santé publique.

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Correspondence to Curt Hagquist PhD.

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Hagquist, C. Evaluating composite health measures using Rasch modelling: An illustrative example. Soz Präventivmed 46, 369–378 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321663

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