Global Pediatric Health (Jan 2021)

Parent Report of Health Related Quality of Life in Young Children in Rural Guatemala: Implementation, Reliability, and Validity of the PedsQL in Stunting and Wasting

  • Amy K. Connery Psy.D.,
  • Molly M. Lamb Ph.D.,
  • Alison M. Colbert Ph.D.,
  • Desirée Bauer B.A.,
  • Sara Hernández B.A.,
  • Paola Arroyave B.A.,
  • María Alejandra Martínez B.A.,
  • Edgar Eduardo Barrios B.A.,
  • Hana M. El Sahly M.D.,
  • Alejandra Paniagua-Avila M.D., M.P.H.,
  • Mirella Calvimontes M.D.,
  • Guillermo Antonio Bolaños M.D.,
  • Daniel Olson M.D.,
  • Edwin J. Asturias M.D.,
  • Flor M. Munoz M.D.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X21991028
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

Read online

In this study, we review the implementation, reliability, and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), a measure of health-related quality of life, in young children in rural Guatemala. Mothers of 842 children ( age range = 1-60 months) completed the PedsQL Generic Core Scales 4.0 serially for 1 year. Low (Pearson’s r = 0.28, P < .0001) to moderate (Pearson’s r = 0.65, P < .0001) consistency in responding over time was shown. The PedsQL did not discriminate reliably between healthy children and those with stunting or wasting. PedsQL scores were not lower during the time of an acute illness. While we found low to moderate evidence for the reliability of the PedsQL in healthy children, it did not discriminate between healthy children and those with stunting, wasting or other acute illness.