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Development of a culturally appropriate health‐related quality of life measure for human immunodeficiency virus‐infected children in Thailand
Author(s) -
Punpanich Warunee,
Hays Ron D,
Detels Roger,
Chokephaibulkit Kulkanya,
Chantbuddhiwet Umaporn,
Leowsrisook Pimsiri,
Prasitsuebsai Wasana
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2010.01886.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cronbach's alpha , quality of life (healthcare) , construct validity , reliability (semiconductor) , disease , scale (ratio) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , internal consistency , validity , clinical psychology , pediatrics , psychometrics , gerontology , immunology , nursing , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Aim: Develop a reliable and valid self‐report health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected children in Thailand. Methods: The Thai Quality of Life for HIV‐infected Children instrument, the ThQLHC (an HRQOL measure that uses the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory as a generic core and a 17‐item HIV‐targeted scale), was developed and administered cross‐sectionally to 292 HIV‐infected children in Thailand. The disease‐targeted scale included HIV‐related symptoms, ability to adhere with their treatment regimens and self‐image. The internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α) and construct validity of the ThQLHC scales were then evaluated. Results: Internal consistency reliability coefficients ranged from 0.57 to 0.82, with four of five scales reaching the minimal acceptable level (>0.70). Significant associations were found between poor HRQOL and poor self‐rated disease severity, care giver's rated overall quality of life, cluster of differentiation (CD) 4 percent and plasma HIV ribonucleic acid level. Conclusion: Reliable and valid disease‐targeted HRQOL measures for HIV‐infected children are essential in the assessment of therapeutic effectiveness. The findings of this cross‐sectional survey provide support for the reliability and validity of the ThQLHC as an HRQOL outcome measure for HIV‐infected Thai children.