Assessing health-related quality of life in children with recurrent headache: reliability and validity of the PedsQLTM 4.0 in a pediatric headache sample.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability and validity of a commonly used measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0), in a sample of children with a recurrent headache syndrome.


METHODS
Participants were 40 children aged 7-12 who completed measures of HRQOL, headache-related disability, and headache activity during a baseline period and following a self-directed cognitive-behavioral intervention.


RESULTS
The data are supportive of the reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and validity (criterion related, convergent, known-groups, and responsiveness to intervention) of the PedsQL 4.0 within a pediatric headache sample.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the PedsQL 4.0 is a reliable and valid measure of HRQOL in children with recurrent headache and captures important information not routinely evaluated in chronic pain populations.
Connelly
Mark
M
Duke University Pain Prevention Center, 725 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA. mark.connelly@duke.edu
Rapoff
Michael A
MA
D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires