Reliability and validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health related quality of life in the 8 to 18 year-old Argentinean population.

INTRODUCTION: The KIDSCREEN questionnaire is an instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It allows to differentiate health levels or to assess the efficacy of interventions. The objective was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Argentine version of the questionnaire in the population aged 8-18 years-old in the city of Bahía Blanca. POPULATION AND METHODS: Cross sectional study conducted in public and private schools in 2008 using a district-stratified sampling. The questionnaire was self-administered and included the KIDSCREEN questionnaire (52 items) and questions about age, gender and family socioeconomic level (SEL). Reliability was analyzed using standard psychometric analysis techniques and the item response theory. The analysis of the factorial structure was performed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and that of the construct validity was conducted comparing dimension mean scores by age, gender and SEL. RESULTS: Most dimensions had a Cronbach's alpha of >0.7 and 80% of items, and sufficient infit or outfit values (<0.8). The CFA showed an adequate data adjustment to the ten-dimension structure. The mean values of the dimensions confirmed lower scores in adolescents than in children, and lower scores in females than in males, as expected in several of the HRQoL dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability and validity of the Argentinean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire were acceptable; therefore its use can be recommended for the 8-18 year-old Argentinean population.

Reliability and validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health related quality of life in the 8 to 18 year-old Argentinean population / Fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario KIDSCREEN-52 para medir calidad de vida relacionada con la salud para población argentina de 8 a 18 años

Introduction. The KIDSCREEN questionnaire is an instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It allows to differentiate health levels or to assess the efficacy of interventions. The objective was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Argentine version of the questionnaire in the population aged 8-18 years-old in the city of Bahía Blanca. Population and Methods. Cross sectional study conducted in public and private schools in 2008 using a district-stratified sampling. The questionnaire was self-administered and included the KIDSCREEN questionnaire (52 items) and questions about age, gender and family socioeconomic level (SEL). Reliability was analyzed using standard psychometric analysis techniques and the item response theory. The analysis of the factorial structure was performed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and that of the construct validity was conducted comparing dimension mean scores by age, gender and SEL. Results. Most dimensions had a Cronbach's alpha of >0.7 and 80% of items, and sufficient infit or outfit values (<0.8). The CFA showed an adequate data adjustment to the ten-dimension structure. The mean values of the dimensions confirmed lower scores in adolescents than in children, and lower scores in females than in males, as expected in several of the HRQoL dimensions. Conclusions. The reliability and validity of the Argentinean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire were acceptable; therefore its use can be recommended for the 8-18 year-old Argentinean population.

Introducción. El cuestionario KIDSCREEN es una medida de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS). Permite discriminar niveles de salud o evaluar la eficacia de las intervenciones. El objetivo fue evaluar la fiabilidad y la validez de la versión argentina del cuestionario en población de 8-18 años de edad de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal en escuelas públicas y privadas durante el año 2008 mediante un muestreo estratificado por delegación. El cuestionario fue autoadministrado e incluyó el KIDSCREEN (52 ítems) y preguntas sobre edad, sexo y el nivel socioeconómico (NSE) de la familia. Se analizó la fiabilidad mediante técnicas de análisis psicométrico clásicas, así como la teoría de respuesta al ítem. La estructura factorial fue analizada mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y, la validez del constructo, comparando las puntuaciones medias de las dimensiones según edad, sexo y NSE. Resultados. La mayoría de las dimensiones presentaron un alfa de Cronbach >0,7 y el 80% de los ítems, valores de infit o de outfit suficientes (< 0,8). El AFC mostró un adecuado ajuste de los datos a la estructura de diez dimensiones. Las medias de las dimensiones confirmaron puntuaciones menores en adolescentes que en niños/as y menores en mujeres que en varones, como se esperaba en varias dimensiones de la CVRS. Conclusiones. La versión argentina del KIDSCREEN- 52 presentó una aceptable fiabilidad y validez, por lo que puede recomendarse su utilización en población argentina de 8-18 años.

Reliability and validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health related quality of life in the 8 to 18 year-old Argentinean population / Fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario KIDSCREEN-52 para medir calidad de vida relacionada con la salud para población argentina de 8 a 18 años

Introduction. The KIDSCREEN questionnaire is an instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It allows to differentiate health levels or to assess the efficacy of interventions. The objective was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Argentine version of the questionnaire in the population aged 8-18 years-old in the city of Bahía Blanca. Population and Methods. Cross sectional study conducted in public and private schools in 2008 using a district-stratified sampling. The questionnaire was self-administered and included the KIDSCREEN questionnaire (52 items) and questions about age, gender and family socioeconomic level (SEL). Reliability was analyzed using standard psychometric analysis techniques and the item response theory. The analysis of the factorial structure was performed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and that of the construct validity was conducted comparing dimension mean scores by age, gender and SEL. Results. Most dimensions had a Cronbachs alpha of >0.7 and 80% of items, and sufficient infit or outfit values (<0.8). The CFA showed an adequate data adjustment to the ten-dimension structure. The mean values of the dimensions confirmed lower scores in adolescents than in children, and lower scores in females than in males, as expected in several of the HRQoL dimensions. Conclusions. The reliability and validity of the Argentinean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire were acceptable; therefore its use can be recommended for the 8-18 year-old Argentinean population.(AU)

Introducción. El cuestionario KIDSCREEN es una medida de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS). Permite discriminar niveles de salud o evaluar la eficacia de las intervenciones. El objetivo fue evaluar la fiabilidad y la validez de la versión argentina del cuestionario en población de 8-18 años de edad de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal en escuelas públicas y privadas durante el año 2008 mediante un muestreo estratificado por delegación. El cuestionario fue autoadministrado e incluyó el KIDSCREEN (52 ítems) y preguntas sobre edad, sexo y el nivel socioeconómico (NSE) de la familia. Se analizó la fiabilidad mediante técnicas de análisis psicométrico clásicas, así como la teoría de respuesta al ítem. La estructura factorial fue analizada mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y, la validez del constructo, comparando las puntuaciones medias de las dimensiones según edad, sexo y NSE. Resultados. La mayoría de las dimensiones presentaron un alfa de Cronbach >0,7 y el 80% de los ítems, valores de infit o de outfit suficientes (< 0,8). El AFC mostró un adecuado ajuste de los datos a la estructura de diez dimensiones. Las medias de las dimensiones confirmaron puntuaciones menores en adolescentes que en niños/as y menores en mujeres que en varones, como se esperaba en varias dimensiones de la CVRS. Conclusiones. La versión argentina del KIDSCREEN- 52 presentó una aceptable fiabilidad y validez, por lo que puede recomendarse su utilización en población argentina de 8-18 años.(AU)

Reliability and validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health related quality of life in the 8 to 18 year-old Argentinean population. / Reliability and validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health related quality of life in the 8 to 18 year-old Argentinean population.

INTRODUCTION: The KIDSCREEN questionnaire is an instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It allows to differentiate health levels or to assess the efficacy of interventions. The objective was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Argentine version of the questionnaire in the population aged 8-18 years-old in the city of Bahía Blanca. POPULATION AND METHODS: Cross sectional study conducted in public and private schools in 2008 using a district-stratified sampling. The questionnaire was self-administered and included the KIDSCREEN questionnaire (52 items) and questions about age, gender and family socioeconomic level (SEL). Reliability was analyzed using standard psychometric analysis techniques and the item response theory. The analysis of the factorial structure was performed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and that of the construct validity was conducted comparing dimension mean scores by age, gender and SEL. RESULTS: Most dimensions had a Cronbachs alpha of >0.7 and 80

of items, and sufficient infit or outfit values (<0.8). The CFA showed an adequate data adjustment to the ten-dimension structure. The mean values of the dimensions confirmed lower scores in adolescents than in children, and lower scores in females than in males, as expected in several of the HRQoL dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability and validity of the Argentinean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire were acceptable; therefore its use can be recommended for the 8-18 year-old Argentinean population.