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Open Access 01-09-2020

Does the single-item self-rated health measure the same thing across different wordings? Construct validity study

Authors: Stéphane Cullati, Naike Bochatay, Clémentine Rossier, Idris Guessous, Claudine Burton-Jeangros, Delphine S. Courvoisier

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 9/2020

Abstract

Purpose

The self-rated health (SRH) item is frequently used in health surveys but variations of its form (wording, response options) may hinder comparisons between versions over time or across surveys. The objectives were to determine (a) whether three SRH forms are equivalent, (b) the form with the best construct validity and (c) the best coding scheme to maximize equivalence across forms.

Methods

We used data from 58,023 respondents of the Swiss Health Survey. Three SRH forms were used. Response options varied across forms and we explored four coding schemes (two considering SRH as continuous, two as dichotomous). Construct validity of the SRH was assessed using 34 health predictors to estimate the explained variance.

Results

Distributions of response options were similar across SRH forms, except for the “good” and “very good” options (“good” in form 1: 58.6%, form 2: 65.0% and form 3: 44.1%). Explained variances differed across SRH forms, with form 3 providing the best overall explained variance, regardless of coding schemes. The linear coding scheme maximised the equivalence across SRH forms.

Conclusion

The three SRH forms were not equivalent in terms of construct validity. Studies examining the evolution of SRH over time with surveys using different forms should use the linear coding scheme to maximise equivalence between SRH forms.

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Title: Does the single-item self-rated health measure the same thing across different wordings? Construct validity study
Authors: Stéphane Cullati
Naike Bochatay
Clémentine Rossier
Idris Guessous
Claudine Burton-Jeangros
Delphine S. Courvoisier
Publication date: 01-09-2020
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Quality of Life Research / Issue 9/2020
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02533-2

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Does the single-item self-rated health measure the same thing across different wordings? Construct validity study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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