Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Testing: A Potential Path Toward the Efficient and Precise Assessment of Applied Cognition, Daily Activity, and Mobility for Hospitalized Patients

Objective: To develop and evaluate an efficient and precise variable-length functional assessment of applied cognition, daily activity, and mobility to inform mobility preservation and rehabilitation service delivery among hospitalized patients. Design: A multidimensional item bank tapping into these dimensions was developed, with all items calibrated using a multidimensional graded response model. The items were adaptively selected from the item banks to maximize the test information, and the test ended when a joint stopping rule was satisfied. A simulation study was conducted based on the completed instrument, the Functional Assessment in Acute Care Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Test (FAMCAT), to compare its measurement precision and efficiency capabilities relative to conventional unidimensional computerized adaptive testing. Precision was measured by the bias and root mean squared error between the estimated and true (ie, simulated) θ estimates, whereas efficiency was measured by average test length. Data were collected by an interviewer reading questions from a tablet computer and entering patients’ responses. Setting: A large Midwestern hospital. Participants: A total of 4143 patients hospitalized with medical diagnosis and/or surgical complications, with 2060 in the calibration sample and 2083 in the validation cohort. Intervention: Not applicable. Results: Among the 2083 patients in the validation sample, FAMCAT administration required an average of 6 (SD=3.11) minutes. Ninety-six percent had their tests terminated by the standard error rule after responding to an average of 22.05 (SD=7.98) items, whereas 15 were terminated by the change in θ rule, with an average test length of 45.27 (SD=11.49). The remaining 76 responded until reaching the maximum test length of 60 items. Conclusions: The FAMCAT has the potential to satisfy the need for structured, frequent, and precise assessment of functional domains among hospitalized patients with medical diagnosis and/or surgical complications. The results are promising and may be informative for others who wish to develop similar instruments when concurrent assessment of correlated domains is required.