Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Pediatric Quality Of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core scales among pediatric cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales are commonly used to assess health-related quality of life of healthy children and pediatric patients. Validation of the Generic Core Scales among Chinese pediatric cancer patients has not been reported in the literature. The scales can serve to measure different quality-of-life domains that are not captured by the PedsQL Cancer Module.


OBJECTIVE
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PedsQL 4.0 among pediatric cancer patients and their caretakers were examined.


METHODS
The Generic Core Scales were administered to 335 pairs of pediatric cancer patients (aged 8-18 years) and their caretakers in Hong Kong.


RESULTS
A 5-factor structure (physical, emotional, social, school-related cognitive function, and missed school) was identified in the patient and proxy versions of the scales using confirmatory factor analysis. Both versions of the total scale reported Cronbach α's of .90 or greater, with almost all subscales reporting α's of .70 or greater. Test-retest reliability at 2 weeks was acceptable (intraclass correlations ≥0.60) for a majority of subscales. Agreement between patients' and caretakers' ratings was medium.


CONCLUSIONS
The scales demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and construct validity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study validated the Chinese version of the Generic Core Scales among pediatric cancer patients and their caretakers, which supports the future use of the scales in clinical settings. The Generic Core Scales can also be supplementary to the PedsQL Cancer Module for measuring multiple domains of quality of life in cancer population.
Author affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Texas (Mr Yeung); School of Public Health (Dr Lau) and Department of Psychology (Dr Mak), Chinese University of Hong Kong; Centre for Medical Anthropology and Behavioral Health, Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou (Dr Lau); Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong (Dr Yu); Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong (Dr Chu, Mr Shing, and Drs Leung, Li, and Fok), China.
Nelson C Y
NC
Yeung
Joseph T F
JT
Lau
Xiao-nan
XN
Yu
Yvonne
Y
Chu
Matthew M K
MM
Shing
Ting Fan
TF
Leung
Chi Kong
CK
Li
Tai Fai
TF
Fok
Winnie W S
WW
Mak
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires