RESUMO
To determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of the childhood health assessment questionnaire - modified for Arab children [CHAQ- MAC]. One hundred and eighteen modified questionnaires were completed by 75 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA] patients and their parents attending the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over an 18 month period [January 1996 to May 1997]. The modified questionnaire was self-administered by 82% of the parents. The median time to complete the questionnaire was 10 minutes. The main difficulty in comprehension was discomfort dimension [visual analogue scale [VAS] and morning stiffness]. Test retest reliability was good [r=0.79]. Validity of the CHAQ-MAC was confirmed by the strong correlation between disability index and VAS score [r=0.58]. Functional activities that caused the most difficulties were cross sitting, assuming the prayer position, and using the Arabic style toilet. The modified CHAQ is a suitable assessment tool for Arab children suffering from JRA