The psychometric properties of the PROMIS® profile CAT in people with stroke.

Background: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS) Profile Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) consists of seven CATs and one single item measuring most relevant aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of our study was to determine construct validity and floor and ceiling effects of the PROMIS Profile CAT in Dutch people with stroke.

Methods: People with stroke receiving rehabilitation completed the PROMIS Profile CAT and the EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ5D). Construct validity was evaluated with hypotheses testing based on expected correlations between the profile domains and the domains of the EQ5D. The proportion of participants with the lowest and highest scores were calculated for each profile domain to assess floor and ceiling effects.

Results: 160 participants were included (median age 61 years, 41.9% female). For the PROMIS Profile domains Physical Function, Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity > 75% of the results met our hypotheses. For Fatigue and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities only 60% of hypotheses were met. No floor or ceiling effects were found, with the exception of a floor effect for Pain Intensity which probably indicates that many participants had no pain.

Conclusion: Most domains of the PROMIS Profile CAT showed sufficient construct validity and no problematic floor or ceiling effects in people with stroke. These CATs and the single item Pain Intensity can be used to efficiently measure HRQoL in people with stroke.