From: Confirmatory factor analysis of the thyroid-related quality of life questionnaire ThyPRO
Item | Hypothesized reason for misfit | Investigative modeling of the hypothesized reason for misfit | Results of the investigative modeling |
---|---|---|---|
2b Visible swelling on neck from the Goiter Symptoms scale | May relate to cosmetic concerns, rather than being a symptom | Item was allowed to cross-load on the Cosmetic Complaints factor | Loaded –0.23 on the Cosmetic Complaints factor. |
Loading on own factor: 0.68 | |||
2e Throat pain felt in ears from the Goiter Symptoms scale | May be relevant only for patients with subacute thyroiditis, during the acute inflammatory phase. | No marker of acute inflammation is available in the clinical database describing the patients. Only 9 patients in this sample had subacute thyroiditis | Extraneous modeling not possible. |
Loading on own factor in the full model: 0.75 | |||
2l Hoarseness from the Goiter Symptoms scale | Hoarseness is also a classical symptom of hypothyroidism. Might relate more to hypothyroidism than to goiter. | Item was allowed to cross-load on the Hypothyroid Symptoms factor | Loaded 0.22 on Hypothyroid Symptoms factor. |
Loading on own factor: 0.46 | |||
2t Loose stools from the Hyperthyroid Symptoms scale | Might be a non-specific physical symptom | Item was allowed to load on the other physical symptoms factors, except for Eye Symptoms | Loaded –0.15 on Goiter Symptoms factor and –0.55 on Hypothyroid Symptoms. |
Loading on own factor: 1.20 | |||
6d Afraid of being seriously ill from the Anxiety scale | May be related to not being fully examined yet, and thus an initial fear of e.g. cancer has not yet been ruled out completely | Item was regressed on time since diagnosis. | A significant negative association with time since diagnosis was found |
10e Other people lack understanding from the Impaired Social Life scale | May relate more to depressive mood and emotional distress than the other items in the Social Life scale | Item was allowed to cross-load on the Depressivity and the Emotional Susceptibility factor | No significant loading on Depressivity or Emotional Susceptibility was found. |
Loading on own factor: 1.08 | |||
13g Felt too fat from the Cosmetic Complaints scale | Weight gain is often experienced during hypothyroidism. Feeling too fat may also relate more to a negative self-esteem aspect of depressive mood | Item was allowed to cross-load on the Hypothyroid Symptoms and Depressivity and Anxiety factors | Loaded –0.16 on Hypothyroid Symptoms factor, –0.22 on Anxiety and 0.15 on Depressivity factor. |
Loading on own factor: 0.53 |