title: Cross-cultural validation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™) generic core scale into Arabic language.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A range of scales is available to measure health-related quality of life. Recently, established quality of life scales have been translated for use in a wide range of Western and non-Western cultures. One of the most widely used health-related quality of life scales for use with children is the PedsQL™ 4.0. In this paper, we describe the process of translating this scale into Arabic and establishing its reliability and validity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper has three aims: first, to explain the process of translating the PedsQL™ (4.0) self- and proxy-reports for the ages 8-12 and 13-18, from English into Arabic; second, to assess the reliability of the new Arabic version of the scale and third, to assess its validity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The scale was translated from English to Arabic and back-translated to ensure accuracy. The Arabic version was administered to healthy children and those with cancer and a range of chronic illnesses in Jordan. Statistical methods were used to test the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the Arabic version of the PedsQL™ (4.0) and its ability to discriminate between children in the above groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's alpha coefficients for child self- and parent proxy-reports exceeded 0.7 for the total scores, health summary scores and psychological health summary scores. Testing for discriminant validity showed that the healthy (control) group had a higher health-related quality of life than children and young people with cancer and chronic illness. The children with chronic illnesses had the lowest scores for physical, emotional and school functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial testing of the Arabic version of the PedsQL™ (4.0) suggests that the scale has satisfactory psychometric properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing Faculty of Nursing, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. dnarabiat@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arabiat
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Jabery
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D007802:Language; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating