Ambulatory Pediatrics
Volume 4, Issue 4 , Pages 358-364, July 2004

Validating Measures of Pediatric Health Status, Functional Status, and Health-Related Quality of Life: Key Methodological Challenges and Strategies

  • Dennis Drotar, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Dennis Drotar, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

Received 9 July 2003; accepted 12 December 2003.

Objective.—To describe key methodological challenges in the validation of measures of pediatric health status, functional status, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and ways to address them.

Methods.—Validation strategies of measures of pediatric health status, functional status, and HRQOL were reviewed.

Results.—Three key challenges were identified: 1) clarifying and testing measurement models; 2) measuring responsiveness to clinically meaningful change; and 3) considering data from multiple respondents.

Conclusions.—Research strategies to enhance validity of measures include specifying intended validity and measurement models, documenting sensitivity of measures to clinically meaningful change, and considering data from multiple informants.

KEY WORDS:  health-related quality of life , health status , functional status , validation

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PII: S1530-1567(05)60325-5

doi:10.1367/A03-101R.1

Ambulatory Pediatrics
Volume 4, Issue 4 , Pages 358-364, July 2004

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