title: Validation of the Japanese version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Cancer Module.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module is a widely used instrument to measure pediatric cancer specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for children aged 2 to 18 years. We developed the Japanese version of the PedsQL Cancer Module and investigated its reliability and validity among Japanese children and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 212 children with cancer and 253 of their parents. Reliability was determined by internal consistency using Cronbach's coefficient alpha and test-retest reliability using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Validity was assessed through factor validity, convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and clinical validity. Factor validity was examined by exploratory factor analysis. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by multitrait scaling analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients between the Cancer Module and Generic Core Scales, and the comparison of the scores of child self-reports with those of other self-rating depression scales for children. Clinical validity was assessed by comparing the on- and off- treatment scores using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's coefficient alpha was over 0.70 for the total scale and over 0.60 for each subscale by age except for the 'pain and hurt' subscale for children aged 5 to 7 years. For test-retest reliability, the ICC exceeded 0.70 for the total scale for each age. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated sufficient factorial validity. Multitrait scaling analysis showed high success rates. Strong correlations were found between the reports by children and their parents, and the scores of the Cancer Module and the Generic Core Scales except for 'treatment anxiety' subscales for child reports. The Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C) scores were significantly correlated with emotional domains and the total score of the cancer module. Children who had been off treatment over 12 months demonstrated significantly higher scores than those on treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the PedsQL Cancer Module among Japanese children.
authors.affiliation: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakee
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asami
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.forename: Hisaya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakadate
authors.forename: Tsuyako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazama
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ohyama
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuza
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamibeppu
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsushima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult