TY - JOUR T1 - Measurement precision and efficiency of multidimensional computer adaptive testing of physical functioning using the pediatric evaluation of disability inventory JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Y1 - 2006 A1 - Haley, S. M. A1 - Ni, P. A1 - Ludlow, L. H. A1 - Fragala-Pinkham, M. A. KW - *Disability Evaluation KW - *Pediatrics KW - Adolescent KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Computers KW - Disabled Persons/*classification/rehabilitation KW - Efficiency KW - Humans KW - Infant KW - Outcome Assessment (Health Care) KW - Psychometrics KW - Self Care AB - OBJECTIVE: To compare the measurement efficiency and precision of a multidimensional computer adaptive testing (M-CAT) application to a unidimensional CAT (U-CAT) comparison using item bank data from 2 of the functional skills scales of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). DESIGN: Using existing PEDI mobility and self-care item banks, we compared the stability of item calibrations and model fit between unidimensional and multidimensional Rasch models and compared the efficiency and precision of the U-CAT- and M-CAT-simulated assessments to a random draw of items. SETTING: Pediatric rehabilitation hospital and clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Clinical and normative samples. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: The M-CAT had greater levels of precision and efficiency than the separate mobility and self-care U-CAT versions when using a similar number of items for each PEDI subdomain. Equivalent estimation of mobility and self-care scores can be achieved with a 25% to 40% item reduction with the M-CAT compared with the U-CAT. CONCLUSIONS: M-CAT applications appear to have both precision and efficiency advantages compared with separate U-CAT assessments when content subdomains have a high correlation. Practitioners may also realize interpretive advantages of reporting test score information for each subdomain when separate clinical inferences are desired. VL - 87 SN - 0003-9993 (Print) N1 - Haley, Stephen MNi, PengshengLudlow, Larry HFragala-Pinkham, Maria AK02 hd45354-01/hd/nichdResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tUnited StatesArchives of physical medicine and rehabilitationArch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Sep;87(9):1223-9. ER -