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Table 2 Single-item characteristics of the HLS-EU-Q47 given various analytical approaches

From: Establishing the HLS-Q12 short version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire: latent trait analyses applying Rasch modelling and confirmatory factor analysis

   

One-dimensional approach

Three-dimensional approach

Consecutive three-dimensional approach

12-dimensional approach

Consecutive 12-dimensional approach

HD

CD

Item

Infit

CI

t

Ordered

DIF

Infit

CI

t

Ordered

DIF

Infit

CI

t

DIF

 

On a scale from very difficult to very easy, how easy would you say it is to:

                

HC

A

1) find information about symptoms of illnesses that concern you?

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.3

 

Age, y > o

0.98

0.90

1.10

−0.4

 

Age, y > o

1.03

0.89

1.11

0.6

 

A

2) find information on treatments of illnesses that concern you?

0.99

0.90

1.10

−0.3

  

0.95

0.90

1.10

−1.0

  

0.99

0.90

1.10

−0.2

 

A

3) find out what to do in case of a medical emergency?

1.02

0.91

1.09

0.3

  

0.97

0.91

1.09

−0.7

  

1.07

0.90

1.10

1.4

 

A

4) find out where to get professional help when you are ill?

0.99

0.89

1.11

−0.1

  

0.96

0.89

1.11

−0.8

  

1.06

0.89

1.11

1.1

 

B

5) understand what your doctor says to you?

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.7

 

Edu, h > l

0.91

0.90

1.10

−1.7

 

Edu, h > l

0.95

0.90

1.10

−0.9

Edu, h > l

B

6) understand the leaflets that come with your medicine?

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.3

  

1.04

0.90

1.10

0.9

  

1.03

0.90

1.10

0.6

 

B

7) understand what to do in a medical emergency?

1.00

0.91

1.09

0.1

  

0.96

0.91

1.09

−0.9

  

0.99

0.91

1.09

−0.1

Edu, h < l

B

8) understand your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instruction on how to take a prescribed medicine?

0.93

0.89

1.11

−1.3

No

 

0.89

0.89

1.11

−2.0b

No

 

0.92

0.88

1.12

−1.3

 

C

9) judge how information from your doctor applies to you?

0.96

0.89

1.11

−0.6

  

0.94

0.89

1.11

−1.1

  

0.96

0.89

1.11

−0.7

 

C

10) judge the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options?

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.8

  

0.99

0.90

1.10

−0.2

  

0.92

0.90

1.10

−1.7

 

C

11) judge when you may need to get a second opinion from another doctor?

1.09

0.91

1.09

1.8

 

Age, y < o

1.14

0.90

1.10

2.7a

 

Age, y < o Edu, h < l

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.1

Age, y < o

C

12) judge if the information about illness in the media is reliable?

1.16

0.90

1.10

3.1a

  

1.25

0.90

1.10

4.7a

  

1.10

0.90

1.10

2.0a

 

D

13) use information the doctor gives you to make decisions about your illness?

0.92

0.90

1.10

−1.6

 

Gen, m > f

0.93

0.90

1.10

−1.4

 

Gen, m > f

0.93

0.90

1.10

−1.5

Age, y < o

D

14) follow the instructions on medication?

0.98

0.88

1.12

−0.3

  

0.97

0.88

1.12

−0.5

  

0.90

0.87

1.13

−1.6

 

D

15) call an ambulance in an emergency?

1.07

0.90

1.10

1.4

No

Gen, m > f

Age, y > o

1.07

0.90

1.10

1.4

No

Gen, m > f

Age, y > o

0.96

0.89

1.11

−0.7

Age, y > o

D

16) follow instructions from your doctor or pharmacist?

0.88

0.89

1.11

−2.1b

  

0.89

0.89

1.11

−1.9

  

0.81

0.87

1.13

−2.9b

 

DP

A

17) find information about how to manage unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much?

0.93

0.90

1.10

−1.3

 

Edu, h > l

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.7

 

Edu, h > l

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.2

Edu, h > l

A

18) find information on how to manage mental health problems like stress or depression?

0.95

0.91

1.09

−1.1

  

1.00

0.91

1.09

0.0

  

1.18

0.91

1.09

3.5a

 

A

19) find information about vaccinations and health screenings that you should have?

0.89

0.91

1.09

−2.3b

  

0.93

0.91

1.09

−1.4

  

1.13

0.91

1.09

2.6a

 

A

20) find information on how to prevent or manage conditions like being overweight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol?

0.88

0.89

1.11

−2.2b

  

0.91

0.89

1.11

−1.6

  

0.96

0.89

1.11

−0.7

 

B

21) understand health warnings about behaviour such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much?

0.94

0.89

1.11

−1.2

No

Edu, h > l

0.94

0.90

1.10

−1.1

No

Age, y > o Edu, h > l

0.90

0.89

1.11

−1.7

 

B

22) understand why you need vaccinations?

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.3

 

Age, y > o

1.03

0.90

1.10

0.6

 

Age, y > o

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.1

Educ

B

23) understand why you need health screenings?

0.94

0.89

1.11

−1.0

  

0.97

0.89

1.11

−0.5

 

Age, y > o

0.91

0.89

1.11

−1.5

 

C

24) judge how reliable health warnings are, such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much?

0.99

0.90

1.10

−0.1

  

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.2

  

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.2

Age, y > o

C

25) judge when you need to go to a doctor for a check-up?

0.98

0.91

1.09

−0.4

 

Age, y < o

1.03

0.91

1.09

0.7

 

Age, y < o Edu, h < l

1.00

0.91

1.09

0.1

Age, y < o Edu, h < l

C

26) judge which vaccinations you may need?

1.03

0.91

1.09

0.7

  

1.05

0.91

1.09

1.0

  

1.06

0.91

1.09

1.2

 

C

27) judge which health screenings you should have?

0.92

0.91

1.09

−1.9

 

Age, y < o

0.94

0.91

1.09

−1.4

 

Age, y < o

0.92

0.91

1.09

−1.8

Age, y < o

C

28) judge if the information on health risks in the media is reliable?

1.03

0.90

1.10

0.6

  

1.05

0.90

1.10

1.0

  

1.02

0.90

1.10

0.4

Age, y > o

D

29) decide if you should have a flu vaccination?

1.18

0.91

1.09

3.6a

 

Age, y < o

1.24

0.91

1.09

4.7a

 

Age, y < o

1.06

0.91

1.09

1.3

Age, y < o

D

30) decide how you can protect yourself from illness based on advice from family and friends?

1.06

0.91

1.09

1.3

  

1.12

0.91

1.09

2.5a

 

Edu, h < l

1.00

0.91

1.09

0.0

Age, y > o

Edu, h < l

D

31) decide how you can protect yourself from illness based on information in the media?

0.98

0.91

1.09

−0.3

  

1.01

0.91

1.09

0.3

  

0.93

0.91

1.09

−1.5

 

HP

A

32) find information on healthy activities such as exercise, healthy food and nutrition?

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.7

  

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.8

  

0.95

0.90

1.10

−1.0

 

A

33) find out about activities that are good for your mental well-being?

0.97

0.90

1.10

−0.6

  

0.93

0.90

1.10

−1.3

  

0.93

0.90

1.10

−1.5

Gen, m < f

A

34) find information on how your neighbourhood could be more health-friendly?

1.04

0.90

1.10

0.8

  

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.2

  

0.98

0.90

1.10

−0.4

 

A

35) find out about political changes that may affect health?

1.10

0.90

1.10

1.8

  

1.08

0.90

1.10

1.5

  

1.06

0.89

1.11

1.0

 

A

36) find out about efforts to promote your health at work?

1.02

0.91

1.09

0.3

  

1.02

0.91

1.09

0.5

  

1.02

0.91

1.09

0.3

 

B

37) understand advice on health from family members or friends?

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.2

 

Age, y > o

1.07

0.90

1.10

1.4

 

Age, y > o

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.1

Age, y > o

B

38) understand information on food packaging?

1.12

0.91

1.09

2.5a

  

1.16

0.91

1.09

3.3a

 

Age, y > o

1.12

0.91

1.09

2.5a

Gen, m > f

B

39) understand information in the media on how to get healthier?

0.97

0.90

1.10

−0.7

  

0.97

0.90

1.10

−0.7

  

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.8

 

B

40) understand information on how to keep your mind healthy?

0.91

0.91

1.09

−2.0b

  

0.89

0.91

1.09

−2.3b

  

0.93

0.91

1.09

−1.4

Age, y < o

C

41) judge how where you live affects your health and well-being?

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.3

 

Age, y < o

0.97

0.90

1.10

−0.5

 

Age, y < o

1.02

0.9

1.10

0.4

 

C

42) judge how your housing conditions help you to stay healthy?

0.99

0.90

1.10

−0.2

 

Age, y < o

0.96

0.90

1.10

−0.9

 

Age, y < o

0.99

0.9

1.10

−0.3

Edu, h < l

C

43) judge which everyday behaviour is related to health?

0.92

0.89

1.11

−1.5

  

0.90

0.89

1.11

−1.8

  

1.15

0.89

1.11

2.5a

Age, y > o

Edu, h > l

D

44) make decisions to improve your health?

1.06

0.91

1.09

1.3

  

1.00

0.91

1.09

0.0

  

0.99

0.91

1.09

−0.1

 

D

45) join a sports club or exercise class if you want to?

1.12

0.90

1.10

2.3a

  

1.06

0.90

1.10

1.3

  

1.01

0.90

1.10

0.2

 

D

46) influence your living conditions that affect your health and well-being?

1.05

0.91

1.09

1.0

  

0.98

0.91

1.09

−0.3

  

1.01

0.91

1.09

0.2

Age, y > o

D

47) take part in activities that improve health and well-being in your community?

1.10

0.91

1.09

2.0a

  

1.04

0.91

1.09

0.8

  

1.04

0.90

1.10

0.9

 
  1. Note. This table reports the item-fit indexes after applying the one-dimensional (subscale correlation fixed to 1), three-dimensional and 12-dimensional approaches (treating the subscales as correlated). The analyses of the ordering of response categories (ordered) and differential item functioning (DIF) are based on the one-dimensional and consecutive approaches (treating the subscales as orthogonal or uncorrelated) for the three health domains and the 12 subscales. Ordered: “No” refers to an item with unordered response categories
  2. aA t–value > 1.96 and an infit-value > 1 indicate a poor fit with the Rasch model due to there being more variation in the data than was expected by the model (item is under-discriminating)
  3. bA t–value <−1.96 and an infit-value < 1 indicate a poor fit with the Rasch model due to there being less variation in the data than was expected by the model (item is over-discriminating)
  4. For items displaying uniform DIF, the relevant dichotomized person factor levels are indicated. For example, “Age, y > o” refers to a uniform DIF for the person factor age in favour of the y = younger respondents (47 years or younger) factor level compared to the o = older respondents (48 years or older) factor level. The “Highest completed education level” (Edu) factor has l = low (primary and secondary school) and h = high (university or university college) levels, and the “Gender” factor (Gen) has the f = females and m = males levels
  5. cnon-uniform DIF (item 22). All other DIFs were uniform
  6. A: access, B: understand, C: appraise, CD: cognitive domain, CI: confidence interval, D: apply, DP: disease prevention, HC: healthcare, HD: health domain, HP: health promotion
  7. RUMM2030 was used for the analyses of the ordering of response categories and DIF. ConQuest 4 was used for all other analyses