title: Psychometric properties of the initial Brazilian version of the CHQ-PF50 applied to the caregivers of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the psychometric properties of the initial Brazilian version of the Child Health Questionnaire(CHQ-PF50) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy(CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The caregivers of 5- to 18-year-old children and adolescents with CP answered the self-administered CHQ-PF50 questionnaire. Data quality, reliability and validity were studied. The Gross Motor Function Measure was used to assess physical function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six caregivers answered the questionnaire. Patient age ranged from 5 to 17.9 years (mean: 9.3 years). Missing data rate was low. Floor effect occurred in 3 scales and was substantial for quadriplegia group (63.6-77.3%). Ceiling effect occurred in 9 scales. Reliability was adequate for all scales except for the general health perception scale (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.24). The validity was adequate in general, but the role/social limitations-emotional behavioral scale was not satisfactory for discriminant and divergent validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial Brazilian version of the CHQ-PF50 showed, in general, adequate psychometric properties for application in patients with CP. Although floor and ceiling effects are expected in heterogeneous group as a limitation inherent to generic assessment instruments, they must be carefully considered in further studies. The general health perception and role/social limitations-emotional behavioral scale must be further reviewed for this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Neurologic Propedeuthic Division, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente (AACD), R. Rodrigues da Cunha, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-362, Brazil. niveamacedo@mglink.com.br
authors.forename: Nívea de M O
authors.initials: Nde M
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Carlos H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frontarolli
authors.forename: Renata R H
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Viviane O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Rangel
authors.forename: Rogério M C
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Rogério R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Débora C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019727:Proxy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires