Development and validation of a spina bifida-specific pediatric quality of life questionnaire: the Spina Bifida Pediatric Questionnaire,SBPQ

Purpose

Based on existing questionnaires and patient interview, a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire in spina bifida (SB) children is created and validated, the Spina Bifida Pediatric Questionnaire (SBPQ).

Methods

SB patients from the SB reference centre Ghent University Hospital, Belgium, with mental ability between 6 and 18 years old and their parents were asked to participate in the study, together with a control group.

Results

Thirty-nine patients and parents answered the questionnaire once, 20 patients and their parents the test-retest. Thirty-five controls answered the questionnaire once, 34 controls and their parents the test-retest. The final questionnaire was retained when 3 consecutive patients approved all items. Visual clues were added for children with a mental ability below 10 years of age. The test-retest showed a good to excellent agreement for child self-report in 5 domains (not for social functioning), for parent proxy report in all domains (6), for control self-report in 4 domains (not for domain home) and for control parent proxy report in all domains (5). Internal consistency reliability was good in child self-report and in parent proxy report, except for physical functioning in child self-report. There was parent–child agreement for 4 out of 6 domains. Regarding social and emotional functioning, QoL was rated lower by parents than by children themselves.

Conclusion

A SB HRQoL questionnaire was developed and validated. Because of visual aid, this questionnaire can be used by both young children and adolescents.