Development and assessment of a shortened Quality of Life in Childhood XXXX Questionnaire (QOLCE-55).

@entity1 @entity73 @entity302 @entity283
OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a shortened version of the Quality of Life in Childhood @entity302 Questionnaire (QOLCE). A secondary aim was to compare baseline risk factors predicting @entity283 ( @entity283 ) in @entity1 newly diagnosed with @entity302 , as identified using the original and shortened version. METHODS: Data came from the Health-Related Quality of Life in @entity1 with @entity302 Study (HERQULES, N = 373), a multicenter prospective cohort study. Principal component analysis reduced the number of items from the original QOLCE, and factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the shortened version. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed by correlating the @entity1 Health Questionnaire (CHQ) with the shortened QOLCE. Multiple regression identified risk factors at diagnosis for @entity283 at 24 months. RESULTS: A four-factor, higher-order, 55-item solution was obtained. A total of 21 items were removed. The final model represents functioning in four dimensions of @entity283 : Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Physical. The shortened QOLCE demonstrated acceptable fit: Bentler's Comparative Fit Index = 0.944; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.942; root mean square approximation = 0.058 (90% CI: 0.056-0.061); weighted root mean square residuals (WRMR) = 1.582, and excellent internal consistency (a = 0.96, subscales a > 0.80). Factor loadings were good (first-order:    = 0.66-0.93; higher-order    = 0.66-0.85; p < 0.001 for all). The shortened QOLCE scores correlated strongly with similar subscales of the @entity1 Health Questionnaire (   = 0.38-0.70) while correlating weakly with dissimilar subscales (   = 0.30-0.31). While controlling for @entity283 at diagnosis, predictors for better @entity283 at 24 months were the following: no cognitive problems reported (p = 0.001), better family functioning (p = 0.014), fewer family demands (p = 0.008), with an interaction between baseline @entity73 (p = 0.011). SIGNIFICANCE: Results offer initial evidence regarding reliability and validity of the proposed 55-item shortened version of the QOLCE (QOLCE-55). The QOLCE-55 produced results on risk factors consistent with those found using the original measure. Given the fewer items, QOLCE-55 may be a viable option reducing respondent burden when assessing @entity283 in @entity1 with @entity302 .
