title: Measuring the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young children in resource-limited settings: a review of existing measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review sought to identify and summarize the instruments adapted or developed for measuring HRQoL among young children (<8 years) living in resource-limited settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature was conducted in two phases. Phase one searched the PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Knowledge (Web of Science), African Index Medicus, and SocINDEX databases and identified widely used child HRQoL instruments. Phase two reviewed the articles using the selected HRQoL instruments and extracted information on their use in resource-limited settings including adaption processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven instruments were identified that measured the HRQoL of young children. Six had been used in resource-limited settings. Of the 452 articles using these instruments, a total of 23 (5 %) studies used one of the identified HRQoL instruments in a resource-limited setting. Among these studies, 39 % employed an adaptation process for the use of that instrument. No instruments had been developed specifically for measuring the HRQoL of young children in resource-limited settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If pediatric HRQoL instruments are to be used in resource-limited settings, it is critical that they be developed and adequately adapted to those settings. Only then will interventions lead to larger increases in the overall HRQoL and well-being of children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 610 North Walnut Street, Office 503, Madison, WI 53726, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paltzer
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Whitney P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Witt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires