PedsQL™ Present Functioning Visual Analogue Scales: Reliability and Validity
Author Information
Author(s): Sherman Sandra A, Eisen Sarajane, Burwinkle Tasha M, Varni James W
Primary Institution: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Hypothesis
The PedsQL™ VAS Emotional Distress Summary Score and the fatigue VAS would demonstrate moderate to large effect size correlations with the PPQ Pain Intensity VAS.
Conclusion
The results demonstrate preliminary test-retest and internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the PedsQL™ Present Functioning VAS instrument for both pediatric patient self-report and parent proxy-report.
Supporting Evidence
- Test-retest reliability was demonstrated from T1 to T2 in the large effect size range.
- Internal consistency reliability was demonstrated for the PedsQL™ VAS Total Symptom Score and Emotional Distress Summary Score.
- The Emotional Distress Summary Score and Fatigue VAS were significantly correlated with the PPQ Pain VAS.
Takeaway
This study created a tool to help kids and their parents report feelings like sadness and pain while in the hospital, and it showed that the tool works well.
Methodology
The PedsQL™ VAS was administered to 70 pediatric patients ages 5–17 and their parents upon hospital admission and again two hours later.
Limitations
The study was part of a larger dissertation and did not specifically test the measurement properties of the PedsQL™ VAS.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 70 pediatric patients ages 5–17, with 40 boys and 30 girls.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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