Examining a developmental approach to health-related quality of life assessment: Psychometric analysis of DISABKIDS generic module in a Portuguese sample

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the properties of a generic instrument for pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessment – DISABKIDS-37 – in a sample of Portuguese children and adolescents with chronic health conditions. Participants were 349 children/adolescents with asthma or epilepsy and their parents/caregivers, who reported on children/adolescents’ HRQL, along with generic quality of life and psychological adjustment measures in self- and proxy-report formats. Using classical statistic validation procedures, reliability, scale inter-correlations, and convergent, divergent, and discriminant validities were analyzed. Results were reported using age group stratifications, attesting the developmental appropriateness of DISABKIDS-37 questionnaire to assess HRQL in children, adolescents, and mixed samples.

Keywords:

• health-related quality of life
• children and adolescents
• DISABKIDS
• psychometrics

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Portuguese Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Ref. 96783-AS), Institute of Cognitive Psychology, Vocational and Social Development of Coimbra University (PEst-OE/PSI/UI0192/2011), and Coimbra Cerebral Palsy Association.