Psychometric validation of the French self and proxy versions of the PedsQL™ 4.0 generic health-related quality of life questionnaire for 8–12 year-old children

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQL(TM)4.0) is a generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire, widely used in pediatric clinical trials but not yet validated in France. We performed the psychometric validation of the self and proxy PedsQL(TM)4.0 generic questionnaires for French children aged 8–12 years old. METHODS: This bicentric cross-sectional study included 123 children and their parents with congenital heart disease (CHD) and 97 controls. The psychometric validation method was based on the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN). The reliability was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). To evaluate the validity of this scale, content, face, criterion, and construct validity psychometric proprieties were tested. Acceptability was studied regarding questionnaires’ completion and the existence of a floor or a ceiling effect. RESULTS: Test–retest reliability intra-class correlation coefficients were mainly in good range (0.49–0.66). Face validity was very good among parents (0.85) and children (0.75). Content validity was good (0.70), despite misinterpretation of some items. In construct validity, each subscale had acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α > 0.72 in self-reports, > 0.69 in proxy-reports). In the confirmatory factor analysis, the goodness-of-fit statistics rejected the original structure with 4 factors. The exploratory factor analysis revealed an alternative two-factor structure corresponding to physical and psychological dimensions. Convergent validity was supported by moderate (> 0.41) to high correlations (0.57) between PedsQL and Kidscreeen questionnaires for physical, emotion and school dimensions. The ability of the PedsQL to discriminate CHD severity was better with physical, social and total scores for both self-reports and proxy-reports. CONCLUSIONS: The PedsQL(TM)4.0 generic self and proxy HRQoL questionnaires found good psychometric properties, with regard to acceptability, responsiveness, validity, and reliability. This instrument appeared to be easy to use and comprehend within the target population of children aged 8 to 12 years old and their parents. Trial registration: This study was approved by the South-Mediterranean-IV Ethics Committee and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01202916), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01202916.