Devising a Missing Data Rule for a Quality of Life Questionnaire: A Simulation Study

Peter Jacoby, Andrew Whitehouse, Helen Leonard, Jacinta Saldaris, Scott Demarest, Tim Benke, Jenny Downs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to devise an evidence-based missing data rule for the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) questionnaire specifying how many missing items are permissible for domain and total scores to be calculated using simple imputation. We sought a straightforward rule that can be used in both research and clinical monitoring settings. Method: A simulation study was conducted involving random selection of missing items from a complete data set of questionnaire responses. This comprised 520 children with intellectual disability from 5 diagnostic groups. We applied a simple imputation scheme, and the simulated distribution of errors induced by imputation was compared with the previously estimated standard error of measurement (SEM) for each domain. Results: Using a stringent criterion, which requires that the 95th percentile of absolute error be less than the SEM, 1 missing item should be permitted for 2 of the 6 QI-Disability subdomain scores to be calculated and 1 missing item per domain for the total score to be calculated. Other, less stringent criteria would allow up to 2 missing items per domain. Conclusion: Empirical evidence about the impact of imputing missing questionnaire responses can be gathered using simulation methods applied to a complete data set. We recommend that such evidence be used in devising a rule that specifies how many items can be imputed for a valid score to be calculated.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E414-E418
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Volume43
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2022

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