Common Metrics

For many different aspects of health-related quality of life that are relevant in clinical practice and research, an unmanageable number of standardised questionnaires have been developed over the past years. For example, more than 280 different instruments with different focuses, theoretical backgrounds and objectives have been developed to measure aspects of depression. Study results are thus naturally difficult to compare.

Our aim is to develop and validate methods that allow instrument-independent and construct-based measurement of patient-reported health on a common scale. Using item response theory, we model the specific construct as a latent variable that then can be collected with different questionnaires.

For the development and validation of common metrics, we are cooperating with the University of Leipzig, the University of Giessen and the University of Amsterdam, among other cooperation partners.