Related Experiment Videos
The PedsQL Family Impact Module: preliminary reliability and validity
James W Varni1, Sandra A Sherman, Tasha M Burwinkle
1Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA. jvarni@archone.tamu.edu
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
|September 29, 2004
Summary
The PedsQL Family Impact Module shows preliminary reliability for assessing health-related quality of life in families with chronically ill children. This tool measures parent and family functioning, distinguishing between home and hospital settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health outcomes research
- Family impact assessment
- Quality of life measurement
Background:
- The PedsQL Measurement Model assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents.
- The PedsQL Family Impact Module (FIM) was developed to evaluate the impact of pediatric chronic conditions on parents and families.
- The FIM assesses parent-reported functioning, communication, worry, daily activities, and family relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the preliminary reliability and validity of the PedsQL Family Impact Module.
- To assess the impact of pediatric chronic health conditions on parent and family functioning.
- To evaluate the PedsQL FIM's ability to differentiate between family care settings.
Main Methods:
- The 36-item PedsQL Family Impact Module was administered to 23 families.
- Families included those with medically fragile children in long-term care or residing at home.
- Data analysis focused on internal consistency reliability and group differentiation.
Main Results:
- High internal consistency reliability was demonstrated for the Total Scale Score (α = 0.97) and summary scores (Parent HRQOL α = 0.96, Family Functioning α = 0.90).
- Module scales showed good reliability (average α = 0.90, range = 0.82–0.97).
- The PedsQL FIM successfully distinguished between families with children in long-term care versus those at home.
Conclusions:
- The PedsQL Family Impact Module demonstrates preliminary reliability and validity for families with children facing complex chronic health conditions.
- Further field testing is planned to confirm measurement properties across diverse pediatric chronic conditions.
- The PedsQL FIM is a promising tool for understanding family-centered outcomes in pediatric chronic illness.