Validity and reliability of the Turkish translation of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)

Purpose. To investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish translation of the original Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).

Method. On May 2003, we received permission from Boston University to translate and use the PEDI for Research purposes. PEDI Functional Skills scale and Caregiver Assistance scale was administered by physiatrists to 573 healthy Turkish children (295 males and 278 females; the age range: 7 months to 7½ years) in two different healthcare centres in Ankara. The Turkish translation of the PEDI was again administered to 102 children after five days in order to assess test-retest reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's alphas (α) were calculated. The test-retest reliability was assessed by Spearman's correlation coefficient. Internal construct validity was assessed by using Rasch unidimensional measurement model.

Results. High Cronbach's α coefficients (≥0.98), high ICC values (≥0.96) and high Spearman correlation coefficients (≥0.86) were found. The internal construct validity was confirmed by good fit to the Rasch measurement model. The fit statistics conducted in the study was acceptable, except for some items.

Conclusions. The Turkish translation of the PEDI is valid and reliable for the Turkish child population. We believe that PEDI is a detailed and useful instrument for the evaluation of efficiency of pediatric rehabilitation programme.