Evidence map›Paper›PMID 20684767›Full record

ArticleHealth and quality of life outcomes2010

Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses of health-related quality of life instruments using logistic regression.

Neil W Scott, Peter M Fayers, Neil K Aaronson, Andrew Bottomley, Alexander de Graeff, Mogens Groenvold, Chad Gundy, Michael Koller, Morten A Petersen, Mirjam A G Sprangers and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health and quality of life outcomes, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 70 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
70citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

70 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Measurement Properties of the Functional Balance Ability Measure Across Subacute Neurologic Diagnoses.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Validation of the ecological momentary well-being instrument (EMOWI) in Canadian adolescents.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Frequency and severity response scales for pain and discomfort: psychometric insights from EQ-HWB.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Differential item functioning between English, German, and Spanish PROMIS® physical function ceiling items.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Neil W ScottSection of Population Health, University of Aberdeen, UK. n.w.scott@abdn.ac.uk
Peter M Fayers
Neil K Aaronson
Andrew Bottomley
Alexander de Graeff
Mogens Groenvold
Chad Gundy
Michael Koller
Morten A Petersen
Mirjam A G Sprangers
EORTC Quality of Life Group and the Quality of Life Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis Group

Funding

Cancer Research UK
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDifferential item functioning (DIF) methods can be used to determine whether different subgroups respond differently to particular items within a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) subscale, after allowing for overall subgroup differences in that scale. This article reviews issues that arise when testing for DIF in HRQoL instruments. We focus on logistic regression methods, which are often used because of their efficiency, simplicity and ease of application.

methodsA review of logistic regression DIF analyses in HRQoL was undertaken. Methodological articles from other fields and using other DIF methods were also included if considered relevant.

resultsThere are many competing approaches for the conduct of DIF analyses and many criteria for determining what constitutes significant DIF. DIF in short scales, as commonly found in HRQL instruments, may be more difficult to interpret. Qualitative methods may aid interpretation of such DIF analyses.

conclusionsA number of methodological choices must be made when applying logistic regression for DIF analyses, and many of these affect the results. We provide recommendations based on reviewing the current evidence. Although the focus is on logistic regression, many of our results should be applicable to DIF analyses in general. There is a need for more empirical and theoretical work in this area.

Indexed as

Health Status IndicatorsLogistic ModelsQuality of LifeData Interpretation, StatisticalFemaleHumansMalePsychometricsSample SizeSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID20684767
PMCPMC2924271

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.