Inventory-Description

The PedsQL is a questionnaire designed to measure health-related quality of life in children and adolescents aged 2-18 years. It has multiple versions, depending on the age group and the purpose of the assessment (e.g., general or specific to a condition). The questionnaire can be completed by both parents and children, offering a multi-dimensional approach.

The PedsQL examines four main dimensions of quality of life:

Physical Functioning: Assessment of mobility and physical activities.

Emotional Functioning: Evaluation of emotional responses and states, such as anxiety and sadness.

Social Functioning: Estimation of the child’s ability to interact with peers and form friendships.

School Functioning: The impact of health on school performance and the ability to participate in school activities.

Participants are asked to answer questions using a Likert scale, ranging from “never” to “almost always,” regarding the impact of health and psychological status on daily life.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data from the PedsQL are used to quantitatively assess quality of life in different health conditions or diseases. The data can be analyzed using the following methods:

Reliability analysis: Calculation of Cronbach’s alpha to estimate the internal consistency of the subscales.

Factor analysis: To confirm the scale’s structure and validate its dimensions.

Statistical analysis: Correlation with other health indicators, such as the severity of a disease, to evaluate its impact on quality of life.

The PedsQL scale is frequently used in clinical studies to assess treatment effectiveness, identify support needs for children, and design appropriate interventions.

Purpose

The primary goal of the PedsQL is to provide a comprehensive tool for assessing health-related quality of life in children and adolescents. Specifically, the scale:

Helps detect the impact of health on different aspects of a child’s life.

Offers insights into support needs and treatment priorities in children with chronic or acute health problems.

Facilitates comparison between healthy children and children with illnesses, contributing to understanding the psychosocial impact.

Calibration

The calibration of the PedsQL involves the following steps:

Reliability analysis: Measurement of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure stability of responses across the various dimensions.

Confirmatory factor analysis: To validate the scale’s structure, confirming that the four main dimensions are adequately represented.

Cross-validation: Conducting studies in various populations and languages to ensure the validity and generalizability of the results.

Bibliography

Varni, J. W., Seid, M., & Rode, C. A. (1999). The PedsQL™: Measurement model for the pediatric quality of life inventory. Medical Care, 37(2), 126-139.

Varni, J. W., Burwinkle, T. M., Seid, M., & Skarr, D. (2003). The PedsQL™ 4.0 as a pediatric population health measure: Feasibility, reliability, and validity. Ambulatory Pediatrics, 3(6), 329-341.

Felder-Puig, R., Frey, E., Proksch, K., Varni, J. W., & Gadner, H. (2004). Validation of the German version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL) in childhood cancer patients. Quality of Life Research, 13(1), 193-204.