Lung life HRQoL measure: psychometric properties and initial data in presumptive TB

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Quality of Life Research
• Tuberculosis Diagnostics

Background:

• Limited health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data exists for young children with respiratory illnesses, particularly tuberculosis (TB), in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Assessing HRQoL in pediatric populations with presumptive TB is crucial for patient-centered care and research in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the LuLi-Q-Tots and LuLi-Q-Pres measures in South African children aged 0-5 years with presumptive TB.
• To establish reliable tools for measuring HRQoL in this vulnerable pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted within the UMOYA TB diagnostic study.
• Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data were collected using the LuLi-Q-Tots (0-2 years) and LuLi-Q-Pres (3-5 years) measures.
• Psychometric properties were analyzed using descriptive statistics, item-total correlations, and Cronbach's alpha for reliability.

Main Results:

• The LuLi-Q-Tots demonstrated minimal floor and ceiling effects, effectively capturing HRQoL in children aged 0-2 years.
• The LuLi-Q-Pres exhibited significant floor and ceiling effects; however, removing 29 items improved its reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.96-0.97) for children aged 3-5 years.
• Caregiver-reported data indicated high prevalence of daily medication use, anxiety, separation anxiety, and jealousy in the respective age groups.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a foundation for the reliable measurement of HRQoL in young children with presumptive TB in LMICs.
• The findings support the use and refinement of the LuLi-Q measures for future research and to inform patient-centered care strategies.
• Further validation and application of these measures can enhance the understanding and management of childhood TB.