Validating the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for Children (CP QOL-Child) questionnaire for use in Chinese populations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for Children (CP QOL-Child) questionnaire. We performed forward (into Chinese) and backward translation of the CP QOL-Child for: (1) the primary caregiver form (for parents of children with CP aged 4-12 years); and (2) the child self-report form (for children with cerebral palsy aged 9-12 years). Psychometric properties assessed included test-retest reliability, internal consistency, item discrimination, construct validity, and concordance between the forms of questionnaire. The Chinese CP QOL-Child was completed by 145 caregivers and 44 children. Excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency were obtained. Item discrimination analysis revealed a majority of the items have moderate to good discriminating power. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated distinguishable domain structure as on the original English version. Significant associations were found between lower QOL and more severe motor disability. Consistent with the English version, the highest correlation between the primary caregiver and child forms on QOL was in the domain of functioning. Results of this study indicate that the Chinese CP QOL-Child appears to be valid for use in Mandarin-Chinese speaking children with cerebral palsy.

Item hierarchy of the Chinese version of cerebral palsy quality of life for children

“…The reliability and validity of C CP QOL-Child has been assessed using CTT. 18 The current study further validated and refined the instrument using item response theory (IRT), more specifically the Rasch model. a Gross motor function classification system.…”

“…When using the CTT approach, 18 results of the principal components analysis followed by varimax rotation showed that the 62-item scale (in the Wang et al study, three items in the domain access to services had been excluded from the principal component analysis as many participants did not provide a response) cumulatively accounted for 57.7% of the variance. In this study using the IRT approach, results of the residual analysis for the original 65-item scale showed that the cumulative variance explained was 56.4%.…”

“…17 Subsequently, the Chinese version of the scale (C CP QOL-Child) has been constructed. 18 Analyses based on Classical Test Theory (CTT) have been used to validate C CP QOL-Child. 18 Although the results were generally positive, two major conceptual limitations using CTT have been pointed out: (i) the lack of an explicit ordered continuum of the test items that represent a unidimensional construct, and (ii) the lack of justification of rating scale data.…”

“…18 Analyses based on Classical Test Theory (CTT) have been used to validate C CP QOL-Child. 18 Although the results were generally positive, two major conceptual limitations using CTT have been pointed out: (i) the lack of an explicit ordered continuum of the test items that represent a unidimensional construct, and (ii) the lack of justification of rating scale data. 19 In contrast to the CTT approach, the item response theory (IRT)-based Rasch analysis has gained as a potent application of psychometric testing for the development or refinement of measuring instruments.…”

Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

“…There were no significant differences between groups found postintervention (8wks after baseline) for children's (Table II). Children in both groups scored in the normal range on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, 27 Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure, 26,43 the parent-reported CP QOL-Child, 44,45 and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function 25 at baseline, and hence this may reflect a ceiling effect.…”