Reliability and validity of the swedish version of child health questionnaire

Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a North American self-administered instrument to assess physical and psychosocial health status for children (CHQ-CF) and their parents (CHQ-PF). We have determined reliability and validity of the CHQ on 45 children with JCA, who were treated as outpatients. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha) ranged between .86 and .94 for the dimensions of the CHQ-CF and between .69 and .94 for the CHQ-PF. Significant correlations (p<.01) were obtained between 7 of the CHQ dimensions and the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) categories, and were particularly strong in the physical domain. Evidence of validity was found through significant correlations (p<0.01) between the CHQ and disease variables. Correlations between parents' and children's responses ranged between .366 and .786. CHQ was found to be valid and reliable for children with JCA and their parents. It seems particularly important to recommend that the children themselves are asked about their perceptions of health status and quality of life.