Evaluating composite health measures using Rasch modelling: an illustrative example.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Hagquist
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Karlstad University, Karlstad. Curt.Hagquist@kau.se
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004813:Epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011336:Probability; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires