Measurement Properties of the Hungarian Version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0: Health Related Quality of Life and Associated Characteristics of the School Children in Hungary

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Hungarian schoolchildren aged 8–18 years and in a representative urban sample. An additional objective was to investigate the effects of health-related and socioeconomic factors on HRQOL. The 23-item multidimensional version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) 4.0 Generic Core Scales and a complementary questionnaire were filled out by 1405 schoolchildren and their parents in the 2010/2011 school year in the city of Debrecen, Hungary. Answers from 1268 schoolchildren (627 aged 8–12 years and 641 aged 13–18 years) were appraisable. The PedsQL™ demonstrated good internal consistency reliability with Cronbach’s α >0.70 for all scales. The percentage of scores at extremes was minimal to moderate (1–38%). Schoolchildren with chronic conditions had significantly lower scores on all scales (p < 0.03–0.002). A child’s regular physical activity was significantly associated with higher Physical Functioning Scale scores according to parents’ proxy-reports (p < 0.000), and higher Total (p = 0.003), Physical (p = 0.000), Psychosocial (p = 0.034), and School Functioning (p = 0.047) Scale scores by child and adolescent self-reports. Financial difficulties in the family and low educational level of parents had significant negative effects on almost all PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scale scores. Our results support the validity of PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales as a population health measure for Hungarian schoolchildren aged 8–18 years. Analyses of the effects of health-related and socioeconomic factors on these scales’ scores support the instrument’s suitability and usefulness for wide-ranging population measures and identification of at-risk populations.