Linguistic Ratification and Validation of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Cardiac Module

Abstract

Objective : On the basis of international requirements to create a Russian version of the international instrument Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.0 Cardiac Module, used for assessment of the quality of life in children with cardiovascular diseases. Methods : In a prospective study it was assessed the reliability of the questionnaire (calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient), its validity — by comparing the responses of patients who had a different ejection fraction (construct validity), and comparing the responses on the scales of PedsQL Cardiac Module questionnaire with the scales of the common PedsQL Generic Core Scale questionnaire (convergent validity). The questionnaire sensitivity was determined by calculating the difference between the values of quality of life of children at the moment of their first hospitalization (1st point) and in 4 months after the initiation of combination therapy (2nd point). Results : The study involved 61 children with heart failure (chronic myocarditis — 25, dilated cardiomyopathy — 36). The median of the age of patients was 12 (4; 15) years. The questionnaire proved to be reliable (the values of Cronbach's alpha coefficient for different units ranged from 0.75 to 0.91) and satisfactory constructive and convergent validity. Therewith, children with ejection fraction <60% had lower values of quality of life than children with higher ejection fraction. Increase in assessment of quality of life in the course of the administered treatment pointed to the questionnaire sensitivity to changes in patients' condition. Conclusion : Satisfactory psychometric characteristics of the Russian version of PedsQL 3.0 Cardiac Module questionnaire allow to use it for research in the field of quality of life in children with heart failure.