Background: The aim of the present study was to
apply item response theory to measure the functional capacity index as an
important measure of the component of positive aspects of functionality among
elderly people, contributing
to the expansion of the use of this tool by creating shorter and more precise
scales for analysis of health situations. Methods: Cross-sectional study was
performed, and sample consisted of 41,269 elderlies aged 60 or more from the 27
federal units that participated in the National Household Sample Survey, in
2008, in Brazil. The generalized partial credit model was used for the
calibration of items. Results: The results of the analysis showed that the
functional capacity index was sufficiently unidimensional for item response
theory and, for greater reliability, the inclusion of more difficult items for
elderly Brazilians with better functional capacity would be required. Conclusions:
Finally, the present study argues that the functional capacity index can be used as a tool in the analysis
and prioritization of health situations.
Cite this paper
Lima, A. L. B. D. , Espelt, A. , Viladich, C. , Bartroli, M. and Costa-Lima, K. (2017). Functional Capacity Index in Elderly: Construction through the Item Response Theory. Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3391. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103391.
Toland, M.D. (2013)
Practical Guide to Conducting an Item Response Theory Analysis. The
Journal of Early Adolescence, 34, 120-151. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431613511332
Araujo, E.A.C., de Andrade, D.F. and Bortolotti, S.L.V. (2009)
Teoria de resposta ao item. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 43, 1000-1008. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342009000500003
Fayers,
P.M. (2007) Applying Item Response Theory and Computer Adaptive Testing: The
Challenges for Health Outcomes Assessment. Quality
of Life Research, 16,
187-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9197-1
Beltrao,
K.I., Teixeira, M.P., Parahyba, M.I. and
Fletcher, P. (2013) Capacidade funcional dos idosos: Uma análise dos
suplementos Saúde da PNAD com a teoria de resposta ao item [Functional Capacity
of the Elderly: An Analysis of the PNAD Health Supplements with the Item
Response Theory]. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística
[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics], IBGE,
Rio de Janeiro. http://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/visualizacao/livros/liv65318.pdf
Freitas,
R.S., et
al. (2012) Capacidade funcional e fatores associados em idosos: estudo populacional [Functional Capacity and
Associated Factors in the Elderly People: A Population Study]. Acta
Paulista de Enfermagem, 25, 933-939. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002012000600017
Dias,
E.G., de Oliveira Duarte, Y.A., de Almeida, M.H.M. and Lebrao, M.L. (2011)
Caracterizacao das atividades avancadas de vida diária (AAVD): Um estudo de
revisao [Characterization of Advanced Activities of Daily Living (AADL): A
Review Study]. Revista de Terapia Ocupacional da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 22, 45-51. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2238-6149.v22i1p45-51
Glas,
C.A.W. and Dagohoy, A.V.T. (2007) A
Person Fit Test for IRT Models for Polytomous Items. Psychometrika, 72,
159-180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-003-1081-5
Edelen,
M.O. and Reeve, B.B. (2007)
Applying Item Response Theory (IRT) Modeling to Questionnaire Development,
Evaluation, and Refinement. Quality of Life Research, 16,
5-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9198-0
Pasquali,
L., Primi, R. and
Francisco, U.D.S. (2003)
Fundamentos da Teoria da Resposta ao Item—TRI [Fundamentals of Item
Response Theory]. Avaliacao Psicológica, 2, 99-110.
Hays, R.D., Morales, L.S. and Reise, S.P. (2007) Item
Response Theory and Health Outcomes Measurement in the 21st Century. Medical
Care, 38,
II28-II42.
Holt, J.C., Van Duijn, M.A.J. and Boomsma, A. (2010)
Scale Construction and Evaluation in Practice: A Review of Factor Analysis
Versus Item Response Theory Applications. Psychological Test and
Assessment Modeling, 52, 272-297.
Lima, A.L.B. and
Lima, K.C. (2014) Activity
Limitation in the Elderly People and Inequalities in Brazil. OALib, 1, e739. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1100739
Culpepper,
S.A. (2013) The Reliability and Precision of Total Scores and IRT Estimates as
a Function of Polytomous IRT Parameters and Latent Trait Distribution. Applied
Psychological Measurement, 37, 201-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146621612470210
Saliba,
D., Orlando, M., Wenger, N.S., Hays, R.D. and
Rubenstein, L.Z. (2000) Identifying a Short Functional Disability Screen for
Older Persons. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical
Sciences, 55, M750-M756. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/55.12.M750
Parahyba,
M.I., Stevens, K., Henley, W., Lang, I.A. and
Melzer, D. (2009)
Reductions in Disability Prevalence among the Highest Income Groups of Older
Brazilians. American
Journal of Public Health, 99, 81-86. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.130708
Farias,
N. and Buchalla, C.M. (2005) A
classificao internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde
da organizacao mundial da saúde: Conceitos, usos e perspectivas [The
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Concepts,
Uses and Perspectives]. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 8, 187-193. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-790X2005000200011
Hays,
R.D., Liu, H., Spritzer, K. and
Cella, D. (2007) Item Response Theory Analyses of Physical
Functioning Items in the Medical Outcomes Study. Medical Care, 45,
S32-S38. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000246649.43232.82
Muniz, J. (2010) Las teorías de los tests: Teoria clásica
y teoría de respuesta a los ítems [Test Theories: Classical Theory and Item
Response Theory]. Papeles del Psicólogo, 31, 57-66.