Factor analysis and validity of the Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales in childhood cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the factor structure of the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form (CPRS-R:S) and the Conners Teacher Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form (CTRS-R:S) in children who are long-term survivors of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or brain tumors (BT)and who have received central nervous system directed treatment.


METHODS
Parents and teachers of 150 long-term survivors completed the CPRS-R:S or CTRS-R:S as part of a screening battery. The data were submitted to a maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis to test the construct validity of the scales and the forms were compared. The CPRS-R:S was also compared to selected subscales of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for further validation.


RESULTS
The analyses demonstrated an adequate fit of the original three-factor structure of the CTRS-R:S [oppositional, cognitive problems/inattention, hyperactivity]. The analyses of the CPRS-R:S suggested a less adequate fit of the original three-factor structure but principal components factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution with factors similar to those of Conners' original factor structure. Significant correlations were found between the CPRS-R:S and the selected subscales of the CBCL.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the similar construct validity of the original CTRS-R:S and CPRS-R:S. Although significantly correlated, the CPRS-R:S and CTRS-R:S are not interchangeable in the assessment of survivors of childhood cancer.
Division of Behavioral Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-2794, USA. susan.helton@stjude.org
Susan C
SC
Helton
Robert F
RF
Corwyn
Melanie J
MJ
Bonner
Ronald T
RT
Brown
Raymond K
RK
Mulhern
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001288:Attention; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011581:Psychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents