title: Construct validity of the pediatric Rome III criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common. The diagnosis of FGIDs is based on the Rome criteria, a symptom-based diagnostic classification established by expert consensus. There is little evidence of validity for the pediatric Rome III criteria. The construct validity of the criteria, an overarching term that incorporates other forms of validity, has never been assessed. We assessed the construct validity of the Rome III criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children from 2 schools in Colombia completed the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms at baseline and weekly questionnaires of somatic symptoms and disability for 8 weeks (presence and intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms, nongastrointestinal symptoms, impact on daily activities). A total of 255 children completed at least 6 weekly surveys (2041 surveys).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, 27.8% children were diagnosed as having an FGID. Prevalence of nausea (Δ 7.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.46-11.14), constipation (Δ 4.39%, 95% CI 1.79-6.99), diarrhea (Δ 6.69%, 95% CI 3.25-10.13), headache (Δ 7.4%, 95% CI 3.51-11.09), chest pain (Δ 9.04%, 95% CI 5.20-12.88), and limb pain (Δ 4.07%, 95% CI 1.76-6.37) and intensity of nausea (Δ 0.23, 95% CI 0.127-0.333), diarrhea (Δ 0.30, 95% CI 0.211-0.389), abdominal pain (Δ 0.18, 95% CI 0.069-0.291), headache (Δ 0.17, 95% CI 0.091-0.249), and limb pain (Δ 0.30, 95% CI 0.084-0.516) were higher in children with FGIDs (P < 0.001). Children with FGIDs had greater interference with daily activities (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with a Rome III diagnosis had significantly more gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal complaints, and greater intensity of symptoms and disability than children without an FGID diagnosis. The study suggests that the Rome III pediatric criteria have adequate construct validity.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL †Department of Hematology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA ‡Department of Pediatrics, Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands §Department of Pediatrics, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saps
authors.forename: Diana X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Nichols-Vinueza
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mintjens
authors.forename: Cenk K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Pusatcioglu
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Velasco-Benítez
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment