Applicability and clinical utility of the German rivermead post-concussion symptoms questionnaire in proxies of children after traumatic brain injury: an instrument validation study

• Published in: BMC neurology Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 133
• Main Authors: Bockhop, Fabian, Greving, Sven, Zeldovich, Marina, Krenz, Ugne, Cunitz, Katrin, Timmermann, Dagmar, Kieslich, Matthias, Andelic, Nada, Buchheim, Anna, Koerte, Inga K, Roediger, Maike, Brockmann, Knut, Bonfert, Michaela V, Berweck, Steffen, Lendt, Michael, Staebler, Michael, von Steinbuechel, Nicole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 19.04.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Age groups; Anxiety disorders; Brain; Brain Concussion - diagnosis; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - diagnosis; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - epidemiology; Brain research; Caregivers; Child; Children; Concussion; Examinations; Headaches; Health aspects; Humans; Injuries; Life span; Parents & parenting; Patient Health Questionnaire; Pediatrics; Post-Concussion Syndrome - diagnosis; Post-Concussion Syndrome - epidemiology; Proxies; Proxy rating; Psychometric properties; Quality of life; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Ratings & rankings; Rivermead post-concussion symptoms Questionnaire; Sample size; Sensitivity analysis; Sociodemographics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Traumatic brain injury; Validity; Germany; Traumatic brain injury; Children; Rivermead post-concussion symptoms Questionnaire; Proxy rating; Psychometric properties
• ISSN: 1471-2377; 1471-2377
• DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03587-2

The German Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) can be used to assess post-concussion symptoms (PCS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults, adolescents, and children. In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the German RPQ proxy version (N = 146) for children (8-12 years) after TBI at the item, total and scale score level. Construct validity was analyzed using rank correlations with the proxy-assessed Post-Concussion Symptoms Inventory (PCSI-P), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 (GAD-7). Furthermore, sensitivity testing was performed concerning subjects' sociodemographic and injury-related characteristics. Differential item functioning (DIF) was analyzed to assess the comparability of RPQ proxy ratings for children with those for adolescents. Good internal consistency was demonstrated regarding Cronbach's α (0.81-0.90) and McDonald's ω (0.84-0.92). The factorial validity of a three-factor model was superior to the original one-factor model. Proxy ratings of the RPQ total and scale scores were strongly correlated with the PCSI-P (ϱ = 0.50-0.69), as well as moderately to strongly correlated with the PHQ-9 (ϱ = 0.49-0.65) and the GAD-7 (ϱ = 0.44-0.64). The DIF analysis revealed no relevant differences between the child and adolescent proxy versions. The German RPQ proxy is a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for assessing PCS in children after TBI. Therefore, RPQ self- and proxy-ratings can be used to assess PCS in childhood as well as along the lifespan of an individual after TBI.