Construct and criterion validity of the pedsQL™ 4.0 instrument (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) in Colombia

• Published in: International journal of preventive medicine Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 57
• Main Authors: Amaya-Arias, Ana, Alzate, Juan, Eslava-Schmalbach, Javier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2017; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adolescents; Analysis; Cancer; Caregivers; Child; Children; Chronic illnesses; Criteria; Factor analysis; Health aspects; Measurement methods; Measuring instruments; Medicine; Original; outcome assessment (health care); Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; PedsQL™4.0; psychiatric status rating scales; Quality of life; Quantitative psychology; Rating scales (Social science research); Research centers; Teenagers; validation studies; Validity; Colombia; psychiatric status rating scales; validation studies; quality of life; Child; outcome assessment (health care); PedsQL™4.0
• ISSN: 2008-7802; 2008-8213
• DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_194_16

Background: This study aimed at determining the validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) for the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Colombian children. Methods: Validation study of measurement instruments. The PedsQL™ 4.0 was applied by convenience sampling to 375 pairs of children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 and to their parents-caregivers, as well as to 125 parents-caregivers of children between the ages of 2 and 4 in five cities of Colombia (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga). Construct validity was assessed through the use of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and criterion validity was assessed by correlations between the PedsQL™ 4.0 and the KIDSCREEN-27. Results: The instrument was applied to 375 children (ages 5-18) and 125 parents of children between the ages of 2 and 4. Factor analysis revealed four factors considered suitable for the sample in both the child and parent reports, whereas Bartlett's test of sphericity showed inter-correlation between variables. Scale and subscales showed proper indicators of internal consistency. It is recommended not to include or review some of the items in the Colombian version of the scale. Conclusions: The Spanish version for Colombia of the PedsQL™ 4.0 displays suitable indicators of criterion and construct validity, therefore becoming a valuable tool for measuring HRQOL in children in our country. Some modifications are recommended for the Colombian version of the scale.