Translation and validation of the Hong Kong Chinese version of the pediatric quality of life inventoryTM (PedsQLTM) end-stage renaldisease module

Abstract

Objective The goal of this study is to report on the linguistic validation and reliability of the Hong Kong Chinese version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) End-stage Renal Disease Module for Children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Hong Kong, and its use to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in end-stage renal disease children receiving different treatment modalities: peritoneal dialysis, haemodialysis and renal transplantation.

Methods In part 1, forward and backward translations following a stringent validation protocol produced the Chinese translation version. Content validity of the translated instrument was assessed. In part 2, internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by 38 pairs of parents and children with end-stage renal disease aged 5 to 18. The data was further analysed according to different treatment modalities.

Results The translated Hong Kong Chinese version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory ™ (PedsQL™) End-stage Renal Disease Module (PedsQL™ 3.0 ESRD Module-HKC) was found to have good content validity and was acceptable to most patients and parents. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.91 in Patient version and = 0.94 in Parent version). Test-retest reliability, determined with the intraclass correlation coefficients, was excellent (0.89 in Patient version and 0.93 in Parent version). It was found that there was significant better HRQOL in patient received renal transplantation compared with Dialysis (peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis, p=0.006.)

Conclusions This study suggested good content validity, internal consistency, and reliability of the Chinese version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory ™ (PedsQL™) End-stage Renal Disease Module (PedsQL™ 3.0 ESRD Module-HKC). It opened a new dimension of health care assessment for end-stage renal disease children in Hong Kong. Transplantation was reported to have a significant better quality of life score. Further studies with larger samples should be performed to confirm the psychometric properties of this translated instrument.