RT Journal
A1 Stevens MW, Hainsworth KR, Weisman SJ, Layde PM
T1 Health-related quality of life in pediatric minor injury: Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the pediatric quality of life inventory in the emergency department
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2012
FD January 1
VO 166
IS 1
SP 74
OP 81
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.694
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.694
AB Objective 
                  To evaluate the feasibility, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL) in the first 2 weeks after pediatric emergency department care of minor injury.Design 
                  Prospective cohort study.Setting 
                  Pediatric hospital emergency department.Participants 
                  Children and adolescents with minor injury (n = 334).Main Outcome Measures 
                  Child- and parent-reported clinical outcomes and PedsQL scale scores.Results 
                  The PedsQL had good to excellent internal consistency reliability (α range, 0.73-0.93). For each day that the clinical symptoms persisted, there were consistent decreases in mean health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores (validity testing). There were significantly greater negative changes in mean HRQOL scores for fractures vs soft-tissue injuries and for lower vs upper extremity injuries. Clinical outcomes categorized as poor had large negative changes in HRQOL not seen in good outcome groups. Distribution-based indicators of change supported good responsiveness (effect sizes for the physical summary score, 0.01-2.44; group differences at follow-up exceeded estimates of the minimal importance difference).Conclusions 
                  The PedsQL is feasible, reliable, and demonstrates good construct and discriminant validity and responsiveness in measuring short-term outcome after minor injury care in the pediatric emergency department. Assessing short-term outcome from the patient perspective with HRQOL measures may greatly enhance our ability to evaluate the effectiveness of emergency department care.