TY - JOUR
T1 - Critical examination of current response shift methods and proposal for advancing new methods
AU - Sébille, V. ronique
AU - Lix, Lisa M.
AU - Ayilara, Olawale F.
AU - Sajobi, Tolulope T.
AU - Janssens, A. Cecile J. W.
AU - Sawatzky, Richard
AU - Sprangers, Mirjam A. G.
AU - the Response Shift – in Sync Working Group
AU - Verdam, Mathilde G. E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Purpose: This work is part of an international, interdisciplinary initiative to synthesize research on response shift in results of patient-reported outcome measures. The objective is to critically examine current response shift methods. We additionally propose advancing new methods that address the limitations of extant methods. Methods: Based on literature reviews, this critical examination comprises design-based, qualitative, individualized, and preference-based methods, latent variable models, and other statistical methods. We critically appraised their definition, operationalization, the type of response shift they can detect, whether they can adjust for and explain response shift, their assumptions, and alternative explanations. Overall limitations requiring new methods were identified. Results: We examined 11 methods that aim to operationalize response shift, by assessing change in the meaning of one’s self-evaluation. Six of these methods distinguish between change in observed measurements (observed change) and change in the construct that was intended to be measured (target change). The methods use either (sub)group-based or individual-level analysis, or a combination. All methods have underlying assumptions to be met and alternative explanations for the inferred response shift effects. We highlighted the need to address the interpretation of the results as response shift and proposed advancing new methods handling individual variation in change over time and multiple time points. Conclusion: No single response shift method is optimal; each method has strengths and limitations. Additionally, extra steps need to be taken to correctly interpret the results. Advancing new methods and conducting computer simulation studies that compare methods are recommended to move response shift research forward.
AB - Purpose: This work is part of an international, interdisciplinary initiative to synthesize research on response shift in results of patient-reported outcome measures. The objective is to critically examine current response shift methods. We additionally propose advancing new methods that address the limitations of extant methods. Methods: Based on literature reviews, this critical examination comprises design-based, qualitative, individualized, and preference-based methods, latent variable models, and other statistical methods. We critically appraised their definition, operationalization, the type of response shift they can detect, whether they can adjust for and explain response shift, their assumptions, and alternative explanations. Overall limitations requiring new methods were identified. Results: We examined 11 methods that aim to operationalize response shift, by assessing change in the meaning of one’s self-evaluation. Six of these methods distinguish between change in observed measurements (observed change) and change in the construct that was intended to be measured (target change). The methods use either (sub)group-based or individual-level analysis, or a combination. All methods have underlying assumptions to be met and alternative explanations for the inferred response shift effects. We highlighted the need to address the interpretation of the results as response shift and proposed advancing new methods handling individual variation in change over time and multiple time points. Conclusion: No single response shift method is optimal; each method has strengths and limitations. Additionally, extra steps need to be taken to correctly interpret the results. Advancing new methods and conducting computer simulation studies that compare methods are recommended to move response shift research forward.
KW - Methods
KW - Operationalization
KW - Patient-reported outcomes
KW - Response shift
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101084864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02755-4
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02755-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 33595827
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 30
SP - 3325
EP - 3342
JO - Quality of life research
JF - Quality of life research
IS - 12
ER -