title: Differential item functioning (DIF) in the EORTC QLQ-C30: a comparison of baseline, on-treatment and off-treatment data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses can be used to explore translation, cultural, gender or other differences in the performance of quality of life (QoL) instruments. These analyses are commonly performed using "baseline" or pretreatment data. We previously reported DIF analyses to examine the pattern of item responses for translations of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 QoL instrument, using only data collected prior to cancer treatment. We now compare the consistency of these results with similar analyses of on-treatment and off-treatment assessments and explore whether item relationships differ from those at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression DIF analyses were used to examine the translation of each item in each multi-item scale at the three time points, after controlling for the overall scale score and other covariates. The consistency of results at the three time points was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For most EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales, the DIF results were very consistent across the three time points. Results for the Nausea and Vomiting scale varied the most across assessments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that DIF analyses were stable across each time point and that the same DIF effects were usually found regardless of the treatment status of the respondent.
authors.affiliation: Section of Population Health, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Neil W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fayers
authors.forename: Neil K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Aaronson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottomley
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Graeff
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groenvold
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: Morten A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Mirjam A G
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sprangers
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D011788:Quality of Life; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*