PedsQL™ Spinal Cord Injury Module: Reliability and Validity

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2022 · DOI: 10.46292/sci21-00057 · Published: January 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Pediatrics

Simple Explanation

This study focused on testing how well a new questionnaire, called the PedsQL™ Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Module, measures the quality of life in young people with SCI. The questionnaire asks young people and their parents about specific challenges they face due to SCI, like mobility, bladder and bowel function, and social worries. The researchers wanted to know if the questionnaire was reliable (gave consistent results) and valid (measured what it was supposed to measure) by comparing it to another general quality of life questionnaire and a group of healthy children.

Study Duration

June to December 2020

Participants

166 youth ages 8 to 25 years and 128 parents of youth ages 5 to 23 years

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The PedsQL™ SCI Module includes nine scales measuring different aspects of life with SCI, such as daily activities, mobility, and worries related to bladder and bowel function.
2
The questionnaire was found to be reliable, meaning it gave consistent results when used with different people.
3
Youth with SCI reported significantly lower quality of life compared to healthy controls, highlighting the impact of SCI on their overall well-being.

Research Summary

The study examined the measurement properties of the PedsQL™ SCI Module, a new tool designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in youth with spinal cord injury (SCI). Results indicated that the PedsQL™ SCI Module demonstrated acceptable reliability and construct validity, suggesting it is a useful tool for measuring SCI-specific concerns and problems. The study also found that youth with SCI reported significantly lower generic HRQOL compared to healthy controls, underscoring the impact of SCI on overall well-being.

Practical Implications

Clinical Assessment

The PedsQL™ SCI Module can be used by healthcare professionals to assess the specific concerns and problems faced by youth with SCI in clinical settings.

Research Tool

The module provides a standardized instrument for researchers to evaluate the impact of interventions and treatments on the HRQOL of youth with SCI.

Targeted Interventions

The individual scales within the module can help identify specific areas where youth with SCI need support, allowing for targeted interventions to improve their well-being.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of information on families who chose not to participate and the race/ethnicity of the families.
2
A further limitation was the lack of additional demographic and clinical information given the anonymous survey research design.
3
Another limitation is the small number of youth in the younger age ranges.

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