Item Response Theory Applied to the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) in Portuguese

Cassiano Augusto Oliveira Da Silva,Ana Paula Rodrigues Cavalcanti,Carlos André Macêdo Cavalcanti,Arndt Büssing,Tânia Cristina De Oliveira Valente,Kaline Da Silva Lima

doi:10.3390/rel11030139

Cassiano Augusto Oliveira Da Silva, Ana Paula Rodrigues Cavalcanti + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11030139

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Abstract

The item response theory (IRT), or latent trace theory, is based on a set of mathematical models to complement the qualitative analysis of the items in a given questionnaire. This study analyzes the items of the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) in the Portuguese version, applied to HIV+ patients, with R Studio 3.4.1, mirt statistical package, to find out if the items of the SpNQ possess appropriate psychometric qualities to discriminate between respondents as to the probability of marking one answer and not another, in the same item, showing whether or not the questionnaire is biased towards a pattern of response desired by the researcher. The parameters of discrimination, difficulty, information, and the characteristic curve of the items are evaluated. The reliable items to measure the constructs of each of the five dimensions of the SpNQ of this HIV+ sample (Religious Needs; Inner Peace and Family Support Needs; Existential Needs; Social Recognition Needs; and Time Domain Needs) are presented, as well as the most likely response categories, depending on the latent trace level of the individuals. The questionnaire items showed satisfactory discrimination and variability of difficulty, confirming the good psychometric quality of SpNQ.

Highlights

The item response theory (IRT) consists of a set of psychometric models to develop and refine questionnaires measures (Embretson and Reise 2000), being useful to evaluate questionnaires on health field and psychometric evaluation in general, searching more detailed information to ameliorate these instruments (Valentini and Laros 2011)
An analysis of the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) items was performed from the item response theory with the model of the Samejima’s Graded Responses Model
The evaluation of spiritual needs by SpNQ has proved valuable in varied cultural contexts: China

Summary

Introduction

The item response theory (IRT) consists of a set of psychometric models to develop and refine questionnaires measures (Embretson and Reise 2000), being useful to evaluate questionnaires on health field and psychometric evaluation in general, searching more detailed information to ameliorate these instruments (Valentini and Laros 2011). The Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) measures psychosocial, existential, and spiritual needs in clinical contexts. Religiosity/spirituality plays a vital role in facing the consequences and daily life of various chronic diseases as a coping strategy, improving the quality of life, and even confirming the purpose of living of those patients (Büssing et al 2018). SpNQ (Büssing et al 2010) evaluates the intensity of individuals’ spiritual, existential, and psychosocial needs; the respondents indicate whether. Religions 2020, 11, 139 or not there is a specific need within four dimensions (social, emotional, existential, and religious), and how strong it is, using a 4-step scale. It differentiates four main dimensions, i.e., religious needs, existential needs, inner peace needs, and giving/generativity needs (Büssing et al 2010, 2018).

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