Rasch Model of the COVID-19 Symptom Checklist - A Psychometric Validation Study

Tanja Stamm, Valentin Ritschl, Masia Omara, Margaret Andrews, Nils Mevenkamp, Angelika Rzepka, Michael Schirmer, Sigfried Walch, Thomas Salzberger, Erika Mosor

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelBegutachtung

Abstract

While self-reported Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptom checklists have been extensively used during the pandemic, they have not been sufficiently validated from a psychometric perspective. We, therefore, used advanced psychometric modelling to explore the construct validity and internal consistency of an online self-reported COVID-19 symptom checklist and suggested adaptations where necessary. Fit to the Rasch model was examined in a sample of 1638 Austrian citizens who completed the checklist on up to 20 days during a lockdown. The items´ fatigue´, `headache´ and `sneezing´ had the highest likelihood to be affirmed. The longitudinal application of the symptom checklist increased the fit to the Rasch model. The item `cough´ showed a significant misfit to the fundamental measurement model and an additional dependency to `dry cough/no sputum production´. Several personal factors, such as gender, age group, educational status, COVID-19 test status, comorbidities, immunosuppressive medication, pregnancy and pollen allergy led to systematic differences in the patterns of how symptoms were affirmed. Raw scores´ adjustments ranged from ±0.01 to ±0.25 on the metric scales (0 to 10). Except for some basic adaptations that increases the scale´s construct validity and internal consistency, the present analysis supports the combination of items. More accurate item wordings co-created with laypersons would lead to a common understanding of what is meant by a specific symptom. Adjustments for personal factors and comorbidities would allow for better clinical interpretations of self-reported symptom data.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftViruses
Issue1762
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2021

Research Field

  • Exploration of Digital Health

Schlagwörter

  • coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS CoV-2; symptom checklist; self-reported instrument; construct validity

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