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Factor structure and construct validity of the Chinese Health-Related Quality of Life Measure for Youth with Epilepsy.

Yam WK, Ma DK, Cherk SW,

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and North District Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. wklyam@hotmail.com

PURPOSE: Factor structure and construct validity of the Chinese version of the Health-Related Quality of Life Measure for Children with Epilepsy are reported. METHODS: The Parent-Proxy Response Scale and Child Self-Report Scale of the measure were administered to 266 children and their parents (or primary caregivers). Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the underlying factor structure of the instrument. Hypothesis testing was used to explore construct validity. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the Health-Related Quality of Life Measure for Children with Epilepsy had the same five-factor structure as the Canadian version. Greater use of epilepsy-related services was associated with poorer quality of life. Quality of life was also poorer in children who had more seizures, took more than one anticonvulsant, had impaired cognition, and studied in special schools. Children who had close friends and spent more time in extracurricular activities with friends scored higher on the Interpersonal/Social subscale. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide evidence of the cross-cultural applicability of the translated instrument.

Published 4 December 2006 in Epilepsy Behav, 9(4): 606-18.
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