The PedsQL Brain Tumor Module: initial reliability and validity.
BACKGROUND
Brain tumors (BT) are second only to acute lymphoblastic leukemia as the most prevalent form of pediatric cancer, with BT 5-year survival rates approaching 70%. With increased survival, quality of life has emerged as an essential health outcome. This investigation examines the internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Brain Tumor Module.


METHODS
The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and PedsQL Brain Tumor Module were administered to 99 families. The average age of the 56 boys and 43 girls was 9.76 years (range=2-18 years). The sample included children with tumors located in the posterior fossa/brainstem (N=62, 62.6%), supratentorial (N=15, 15.2%), and midline (N=22, 22.2%). Children were on treatment (N=46, 46.5%), off treatment<12 months (N=19, 19.2%), or off treatment>12 months/long-term survivor (N=34, 34.3%). Treatment included radiation (N=61, 61.6%), surgery (N=83, 83.8%), chemotherapy (N=87, 87.9%), and bone marrow transplant (N=5, 5.1%).


RESULTS
Internal consistency reliability was demonstrated for the 24-item PedsQL Brain Tumor Module (average alpha=0.78-0.92, parent proxy-report, n=99; average alpha=0.76-0.87, child self-report, n=51). Construct validity for the PedsQL Brain Tumor Module was supported through an analysis of the intercorrelations with the Generic Core Scales and Fatigue Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide support for the measurement properties of the PedsQL Brain Tumor Module.
Palmer
Stephanie N
SN
Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Meeske
Kathleen A
KA
Katz
Ernest R
ER
Burwinkle
Tasha M
TM
Varni
James W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States