The PedsQL™ brain tumor module: Initial reliability and validity

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Brain tumors (BT) are second only to acute lymphoblastic leukemia as the most prevalent form of pediatric cancer, with BT 5‐year survival rates approaching 70%. With increased survival, quality of life has emerged as an essential health outcome. This investigation examines the internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Brain Tumor Module.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>The PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and PedsQL™ Brain Tumor Module were administered to 99 families. The average age of the 56 boys and 43 girls was 9.76 years (range = 2–18 years). The sample included children with tumors located in the posterior fossa/brainstem (N = 62, 62.6%), supratentorial (N = 15, 15.2%), and midline (N = 22, 22.2%). Children were on treatment (N = 46, 46.5%), off treatment <12 months (N = 19, 19.2%), or off treatment >12 months/long‐term survivor (N = 34, 34.3%). Treatment included radiation (N = 61, 61.6%), surgery (N = 83, 83.8%), chemotherapy (N = 87, 87.9%), and bone marrow transplant (N = 5, 5.1%).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Internal consistency reliability was demonstrated for the 24‐item PedsQL™ Brain Tumor Module (average α = 0.78–0.92, parent proxy‐report, n = 99; average α = 0.76–0.87, child self‐report, n = 51). Construct validity for the PedsQL™ Brain Tumor Module was supported through an analysis of the intercorrelations with the Generic Core Scales and Fatigue Scale.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>The findings provide support for the measurement properties of the PedsQL™ Brain Tumor Module. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:287–293. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.</jats:p></jats:sec>