Validation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Food Allergy Module- Parent Report

Abstract

Food allergy has been shown to affect approximately 8% of children in North America and Europe, with peanut allergy being the most common and severe allergen. A diagnosis of food allergy has been shown to affect emotional, social, and family functioning; however, a valid and developmentally-appropriate English-language health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure for children with food allergy does not currently exist. Thus, the purpose of this study was to validate the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Food Allergy Module- Parent Report. Parents were recruited from food allergy benefit walks and online. Parents completed several forms in reference to their child’s functioning. A total of 168 parents of children ages 2-18 with physician-diagnosed food allergy participated. Results indicated that a 3-factor model consisting of 37 items was appropriate. The measure evidenced adequate content validity with the PedsQL™ Generic Core Scales and internal consistency. Hypotheses related to discriminant validity were not supported. Future examinations should seek to validate the PedsQL™ Food Allergy Module- Child Self Report and consider measuring parent-child agreement. The addition of a valid food allergy-specific module for parents helps to ensure that valid health outcomes assessment in this population is possible and improves the comprehensiveness of the PedsQL™ Measurement System.