[Critical comparison of some questionnaires for the evaluation of the quality of life in children affected by asthma].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to critically compare 9 different questionnaires for the evaluation of the Quality of Life in children affected by asthma.


METHODS
The questionnaires were analyzed by considering their psychometric characteristics (reliability, validity, responsiveness, least clinically relevant difference), together with other practical and technical aspects (number of items, number and kind of domains, scaling of items, scoring, time to complete). Data were obtained from the scientific literature.


RESULTS
Only 1 of the 9 analyzed questionnaires (Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, PAQLQ) appears fully validated from a psychometrical standpoint. Moreover, it is the only one to have a validate translation into the Italian language.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors suggest the use of the PAQLQ as tool of choice in the evaluation of the Quality of Life in children affected by asthma.
Rocchi
M B
MB
Istituto di Biomatematica, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy. m.rocchi@uniurb.it
Bellagamba
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires