title: Using mixed methods to select optimal mode of administration for a patient-reported outcome instrument for people with pressure ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When developing new measuring instruments or deciding upon one for research, consideration of the 'best' method of administration for the target population should be made. Current evidence is inconsistent in differentiating superiority of any one method in terms of quantity and quality of response. We trialed a novel mixed methods approach in early scale development to determine the best administration method for a new patient-reported outcome instrument for people with pressure ulcers (the PU-QOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive interviews were undertaken with 35 people with pressure ulcers to determine appropriateness of a self-completed version of the PU-QOL instrument. Quantitative analysis, including Rasch analysis, was carried out on PU-QOL data from 70 patients with pressure ulcers, randomised to self-completed or interview-administered groups, to examine data quality and differential item functioning (DIF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive interviews identified issues with PU-QOL self-completion. Quantitative analysis supported these findings with a large proportion of self-completed PU-QOLs returned with missing data. DIF analysis indicated administration methods did not impact the way patients from community care settings responded, supporting the equivalence of both administration versions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obtaining the best possible health outcomes data requires use of appropriate methods to ensure high quality data with minimal bias. Mixed methods, with the inclusion of Rasch, provided valuable evidence to support selection of the 'best' administration method for people with PUs during early PRO instrument development. We consider our approach to be generic and widely applicable to other elderly or chronically ill populations or suitable for use in limited samples where recruitment to large field tests is often difficult.
authors: Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. claudia.rutherford@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Rutherford
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Nixon
authors: Julia M
authors: JM
authors: Brown
authors: Donna L
authors: DL
authors: Lamping
authors: Stefan J
authors: SJ
authors: Cano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011897:Random Allocation; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult