The Functional Independence Measure 18-item version can be reported as a unidimensional interval-scaled metric:...

Since the 1990s the Functional Independence Measure (FIM™) was believed to measure 2 different constructs, represented by its motor and cognitive subscales. The practice of reporting FIM™ total scores, together with recent developments in the understanding of the influence of locally dependent items on fit to the Rasch model, raises the question of whether the FIM™ 18-item version can be reported as a unidimensional interval-scaled metric.

Rasch analysis of the FIM™ using testlet approaches to accommodate local response dependency.

A calibration sample containing 946 cases of data from 11,103 patients undergoing neurological or musculoskeletal rehabilitation in Switzerland in 2016.

Baseline analysis and the traditional testlet approach showed no fit with the Rasch model. When items were grouped into 2 testlets, fit to the Rasch model was achieved, indicating unidimensionality across all 18 items. A transformation table to convert FIM™ raw ordinal scores to the corresponding Rasch interval scaled values was created.

This study provides evidence that FIM™ total scores represent a unidimensional set of items, supporting their use in clinical practice and outcome reporting when applying the respective transformation table. This provides a basis for standardized reporting of functioning.