The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory: an evaluation of its reliability and validity for children with traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, version 4.0 (PedsQL), and to compare it with that of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) among children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study that documented the health-related quality of life of 391 children at 3 and 12 months postinjury.


METHODS
Four level I pediatric trauma centers.


METHODS
Children (age range, 5-15 y) hospitalized with a TBI or an extremity fracture.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Parent-reported PedsQL and BRIEF scale scores.


RESULTS
Both the PedsQL and BRIEF scales showed good internal consistency (PedsQL alpha range, .74-.93; BRIEF alpha range, .82-.98) and test-retest reliability (PedsQL r range, .75-.90; BRIEF r range, .82-.92), respectively. Factor analysis revealed that most PedsQL items loaded most highly on their conceptually derived scale. The PedsQL cognitive function scale detected the largest differences among groups of children with varying severities of TBI as well as parents' assessment of change in cognition postinjury.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the reliability of the 2 instruments is comparable, the PedsQL discriminates better among children with TBI. The PedsQL is a promising instrument for measuring the health of children after TBI.
McCarthy
Melissa L
ML
Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. mmccarth@jhmi.edu
MacKenzie
Ellen J
EJ
Durbin
Dennis R
DR
Aitken
Mary E
ME
Jaffe
Kenneth M
KM
Paidas
Charles N
CN
Slomine
Beth S
BS
Dorsch
Andrea M
AM
Berk
Ronald A
RA
Christensen
James R
JR
Ding
Ru
R
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States