Transparency in Psychometric Reporting: A Review of Scales for Well-Being and Quality of Life in Older Persons Employing Rasch Analysis

There is a growing interest in assessing well-being and quality of life (QoL) among older people. To ensure that evidence-based scales are used for this purpose, comprehensive and transparent reporting of measurement properties is a first essential step. This study aimed to evaluate the reporting quality of studies that applied Rasch analysis on scales designed to measure well-being or QoL in older persons. Articles employing Rasch analysis were identified through a previous broader systematic review of psychometric studies. The findings demonstrate notable deficiencies in the reporting of measurement properties, indicating substantial room for improvement. While detailed reporting alone cannot guarantee that scales possess satisfactory measurement quality, it constitutes a necessary prerequisite for drawing evidence-based conclusions about their measurement quality. Improved reporting practices are essential not only for enhancing the interpretability and replicability of individual studies but also for enabling informed decisions in clinical and policy contexts regarding the use of well-being and QoL scales for older populations.