Background: Utilizing multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) and genetic algorithm(GA) we aimed to design and test the psychometric properties of the short form Postpartum Quality of Heart Shaped Acrylic Plaque Life Questionnaire (PQOL).Methods: In this methodological study, 500 women aged 18 to 42 were enrolled through multistage random sampling scheme in Tabriz, Iran.We used MIRT model and GA to identify a short form of the 40-item PQOL measure (SF-PQOL).
Construct and criterion validity of theSF-PQOL was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the correlation between SFPQOL scores with a 12-item short form of QOL (SF-12) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, respectively.The internal consistency, test-retest reliability and Vacuum Motor feasibility of the measure were evaluated.Results: sixteen- and 13-item SF-PQOL were identified based on MIRT and GA, respectively.
The results indicate the better performance of the MIRT based 13-item SF-PQOL; Construct and criterion validity, the test-retest and internal consistency reliability, and the feasibility were confirmed in the MIRT based SF-PQOL, but not in the GA-based SF-PQOL.Conclusion: The MIRT suggests a 13-item SF-PQOL with adequate content which demonstrated satisfactory validity, reliability, and feasibility.SF-PQOL could be used across the population for both research and clinical objectives.