This paper briefly introduces item response theory (IRT) as a typical representation of modern testing theory (MTT), and systematically reviews the processes and contents of the application of IRT in the area of health measurement, including, for example, item bank development, scale revision and computerized adaptive testing. The author presents the potential benefits and the notable problems during health measuring by IRT. Then, the author asserts the need for thorough assessment of feasibility when using the IRT in patient-reported outcome research. Further research based on IRT and computerized adaptive testing in health measurement will be carried out in the field of medical care including traditional Chinese medicine and integrative medicine.
