The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory: an evaluation of its reliability and validity for children with traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, version 4.0 (PedsQL), and to compare it with that of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) among children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study that documented the health-related quality of life of 391 children at 3 and 12 months postinjury. SETTING: Four level I pediatric trauma centers. PARTICIPANTS: Children (age range, 5-15 y) hospitalized with a TBI or an extremity fracture. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parent-reported PedsQL and BRIEF scale scores. RESULTS: Both the PedsQL and BRIEF scales showed good internal consistency (PedsQL alpha range, .74-.93; BRIEF alpha range, .82-.98) and test-retest reliability (PedsQL r range, .75-.90; BRIEF r range, .82-.92), respectively. Factor analysis revealed that most PedsQL items loaded most highly on their conceptually derived scale. The PedsQL cognitive function scale detected the largest differences among groups of children with varying severities of TBI as well as parents' assessment of change in cognition postinjury. CONCLUSIONS: Although the reliability of the 2 instruments is comparable, the PedsQL discriminates better among children with TBI. The PedsQL is a promising instrument for measuring the health of children after TBI.