Application of Rasch analysis in health care is increasing and is applied for variable reasons in mobility instruments.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the frequency of Rasch analysis use in health instrument development or refinement and the characteristics of Rasch application in mobility scales.


METHODS
The entire databases of Medline, CINAHL, PEDro, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched until January 2009. Articles that reported the development or refinement of health instruments using Rasch analysis were included. Of the 234 articles that met inclusion, 10 were categorized as "mobility" instruments. Data were extracted relating to each instrument and the use of Rasch analysis in the development or refinement of the instruments.


RESULTS
The number of articles reporting the use of Rasch analysis of health instruments is increasing, from 1 article in 1987 to 48 articles in 2007. Of the 10 mobility instruments examined, the primary reason Rasch was used varied. Reasons included assessing instrument unidimensionality, differential item functioning, rating categories, item hierarchy, and redundant items.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of Rasch analysis in health instrument development has markedly increased in recent years. However, few mobility instruments have been developed or refined using Rasch analysis. The reasons that the Rasch model was used varied across mobility instruments.
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia. shane.belvedere@bigpond.com
Shane L
SL
Belvedere
Natalie A
NA
de Morton
D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009068:Movement; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires