Using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist to Find Psychosocial Problems in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Reijneveld Sijmen A, Vogels Anton GC, Hoekstra Femke, Crone Matty R
Primary Institution: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen
Hypothesis
Is the Dutch version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist valid for early detection of psychosocial problems in children?
Conclusion
The Pediatric Symptom Checklist is effective for early detection of psychosocial problems in Dutch children when using an adjusted cut-off score.
Supporting Evidence
- The internal consistency of the Dutch PSC was very good with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89.
- The area under the ROC curve was 0.94, indicating high validity.
- At a lower cut-off of 22, sensitivity and specificity were similar to the US version.
- Parents completed the PSC fully in 91.1% of cases.
Takeaway
This study shows that a simple questionnaire can help doctors find kids who might have emotional or behavioral problems, especially if they use a lower score to decide if there's a problem.
Methodology
Children aged 7-12 were assessed using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist and the Child Behavior Checklist during routine health assessments.
Potential Biases
Non-response was higher for children of immigrant/minority origin.
Limitations
The study did not use structured clinical interviews, which may have provided additional information.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 7-12, slightly more girls than boys, with a significant portion from immigrant/minority backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.92 to 0.96
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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