Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Version of the PROMIS Cognitive Function Abilities in the General Saudi Arabian Population

Several neuropsychological assessments and self-reported cognitive measures have been used to ascertain cognitive decline. However, these tools may lack the ability to detect changes over an extended period or present challenges in practical applications in a clinical setting. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Cognitive Function Abilities (PROMIS CFA) short form 8a is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure for assessing self-perceived cognitive function in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the PROMIS CFA short form 8a in the general population of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional methodological study involved a convenience sample of 351 healthy participants who completed the PROMIS CFA short form 8a. The items were rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (“not at all”) to 5 (“very much”). Data were analysed using Rasch analysis to assess category functioning, item fit, reliability indices, and item difficulty and to evaluate unidimensionality using WINSTEPS ® version 5.6.1. A total of 351 healthy individuals (85% women) participated in the study, with an average age of 37 years (±15.4 years). PROMIS CFA short form 8a met Linacre’s criteria for rating scale functioning. One item demonstrated slight overfitting values (infit mean square = 1.34). The person separation index was 2.85 (Cronbach’s α = 0.92). Therefore, the scale was sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between at least three different levels of cognitive ability. Meanwhile, participants’ abilities spanned 11.84 logits (mean 0.47) and item difficulty spanned 0.53 logits, which makes the targeting of items to participants poor. The unidimensionality of PROMIS CFA short form 8a was confirmed, and no local dependency was noted. The scale exhibited robust internal consistency and sensitivity, which facilitated discrimination across a range of cognitive ability levels. Despite the challenges in item targeting, the scale’s unidimensionality provides confidence in its ability to measure cognitive function abilities in diverse populations. This study offers a validated cognitive assessment tool for clinicians working with Arabic-speaking populations.