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Development and assessment of a shortened Q uality of L ife in C hildhood E pilepsy Q uestionnaire ( QOLCE ‐55)
Author(s) -
Goodwin Shane W.,
Lambrinos Anastasia I.,
Ferro Mark A.,
Sabaz Mark,
Speechley Kathy N.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.13000
Subject(s) - psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , cohort , medicine , psychotherapist
Summary Objective To develop and validate a shortened version of the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire ( QOLCE ). A secondary aim was to compare baseline risk factors predicting health‐related quality of life ( HRQoL ) in children newly diagnosed with epilepsy, as identified using the original and shortened version. Methods Data came from the Health‐Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study ( HERQULES , N = 373), a multicenter prospective cohort study. Principal component analysis reduced the number of items from the original QOLCE , and factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the shortened version. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed by correlating the Child Health Questionnaire ( CHQ ) with the shortened QOLCE . Multiple regression identified risk factors at diagnosis for HRQoL at 24 months. Results A four‐factor, higher‐order, 55‐item solution was obtained. A total of 21 items were removed. The final model represents functioning in four dimensions of HRQoL : Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Physical. The shortened QOLCE demonstrated acceptable fit: Bentler's Comparative Fit Index = 0.944; Tucker‐Lewis Index = 0.942; root mean square approximation = 0.058 (90% CI: 0.056–0.061); weighted root mean square residuals (WRMR) = 1.582, and excellent internal consistency (α = 0.96, subscales α > 0.80). Factor loadings were good (first‐order: λ = 0.66–0.93; higher‐order λ = 0.66–0.85; p < 0.001 for all). The shortened QOLCE scores correlated strongly with similar subscales of the Child Health Questionnaire (ρ = 0.38–0.70) while correlating weakly with dissimilar subscales (ρ = 0.30–0.31). While controlling for HRQoL at diagnosis, predictors for better HRQoL at 24 months were the following: no cognitive problems reported (p = 0.001), better family functioning (p = 0.014), fewer family demands (p = 0.008), with an interaction between baseline HRQoL and cognitive problems (p = 0.011). Significance Results offer initial evidence regarding reliability and validity of the proposed 55‐item shortened version of the QOLCE ( QOLCE ‐55). The QOLCE ‐55 produced results on risk factors consistent with those found using the original measure. Given the fewer items, QOLCE ‐55 may be a viable option reducing respondent burden when assessing HRQoL in children with epilepsy.