Abstract P-336: MEASURING CHILDREN’S QUALITY OF LIFE IN AN ACUTE HOSPITAL CARDIAC WARD SETTING: A THINK ALOUD STUDY COMPARING THE CHU9D AND PEDSQL QUESTIONNAIRES

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: RAPID is a feasibility study of an innovative wireless early warning system to detect and allow early response to clinical deterioration. Looking ahead to future economic evaluation of RAPID, this study aimed to explore the feasibility of collecting data on children’s health-related quality of life in this acute hospital setting, using the CHU9D and PedsQL questionnaires, as reported by patients’ parents. Methods Twenty-two parents of children aged 3–6 years admitted to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital cardiac wards took part in a ‘think aloud’ exercise, that involved verbalising their thoughts while completing the age-specific CHU9D and PedsQL paediatric quality of life questionnaires, and participating in a semi-structured interview. Results The majority of parents were able to comprehend and respond to most of the questions in line with expectations, but a range of completion errors were identified. Themes identified include: (1) difficulty in relating responses to the questionnaires’ required time periods, (2) perceptions of the irrelevance of particular questions in the hospital setting, (3) lack of confidence in distinguishing appropriate responses, (4) a shorter questionnaire is not necessarily easier for parents to answer, and (5) the perceived importance of the potential for future quality of life in addition to current experience. Conclusions The ‘think aloud’ approach provides valuable insight into how respondents make choices when completing questionnaires. There are pros and cons associated with attempting to use either the CHU9D or PedsQL questionnaires to collect parent-reported quality of life data for young children in an acute cardiac ward setting.