Author/Authors :
Steinbuechel, Nicole von Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Covic, Amra Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Polinder, Suzanne Department of Public Health - Erasmus Medical College, Netherlands , Kohlmann, Thomas Institute for Community Medicine - Section of Methods in Community Medicine - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University - Walther-Rathenau-Straße, Germany , Cepulyte, Ugne Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Poinstingl, Herbert Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Backhaus, Joy Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Bakx, Wilbert Hoensbroeck Rehabilitation Centre - Postbus AB Hoensbroek, Netherland , Bullinger, Monika Department of Medical Psychology - University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany , Christensen, Anne-Lise Centre for Rehabilitation of Brain Injury and Centre for Cognition and Memory - University of Copenhagen, Denmark , Formisano, Rita IRCCS - Rehabilitation Hospital - Santa Lucia Foundation - Via Ardeatina, Rome, Italy , Gibbons, Henning Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Höfer, Stefan Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Koskinen, Sanna Institute of Behavioural Sciences - University of Helsinki - Siltavuorenpenger, Helsinki, Finland , Maas, Andrew Department of Neurosurgery - Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp - Wilrijkstraat, Belgium , Neugebauer, Edmund IFOM - Private University of Witten/Herdecke - Ostmerheimer Straße, Germany , Powell, Jane Goldsmiths College - Department of Psychology, London, UK , Sarajuuri, Jaana Validia Rehabilitation - Department of Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychology, Helsinki, Finland , Sasse, Nadine Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology - University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany , Schmidt, Silke Institute for Psychology - Department of Health and Prevention - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Germany , Mühlan, Holger Institute for Psychology - Department of Health and Prevention - Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Germany , von Wild, Klaus Medical Faculty - Westphalian Wilhelms-University, Munster, Germany , Zitnay, George Martha Jefferson Association Hospital - Locust Avenue, Charlottesville, USA , Truelle, Jean-Luc Service of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (MPR) - Raymond Poincare Hospital - 104 boulevard Raymond-Poincar, france
Abstract :
Psychosocial, emotional, and physical problems can emerge after traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Until now, however, neither the discriminatory power of disease-specific (QOLIBRI) and generic (SF-36) HRQoL nor their correlates have been compared in detail. These aspects as well as some psychometric item characteristics were studied in a sample of 795 TBI survivors. The Shannon H ' index absolute informativity, as an indicator of an instrument's power to differentiate between individuals within a specific group or health state, was investigated. Psychometric performance of the two instruments was predominantly good, generally higher, and more homogenous for the QOLIBRI than for the SF-36 subscales. Notably, the SF-36 “Role Physical,” “Role Emotional,” and “Social Functioning” subscales showed less satisfactory discriminatory power than all other dimensions or the sum scores of both instruments. The absolute informativity of disease-specific as well as generic HRQoL instruments concerning the different groups defined by different correlates differed significantly. When the focus is on how a certain subscale or sum score differentiates between individuals in one specific dimension/health state, the QOLIBRI can be recommended as the preferable instrument.
