Development and initial validation of self-report measures of general health, preoperative anxiety, and postoperative pain in young children using computer-administered animation

Abstract

Background: For young children, existing measures of children's health-related quality of life must be parent-reported or interviewer-administered for those who cannot read or complete measures independently. Parents’ and childrens’ reports about the child's health have been shown to disagree. Aims: (a) To test the reliability and validity of an animated, computer-administered Child Health Rating Inventories (CHRIS2.0) among children aged 4-12 undergoing surgery; and (b) to develop and test two CHRIS measures of preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain management. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of a diverse group of 542 children aged 4-12 undergoing surgery. We compared the CHRIS measures to Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), the Functional Disabilities Inventory (FDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children (STAI-CH), and the Parent Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM). Results: Factor analyses supported the construct validity of the 12-item general physical health and the 8-item mental health CHRIS scales, as well as a composite 20-item scale, and the CHRIS preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain scales. Internal consistency reliability for all CHRIS scales exceeded the standard for group comparisons (Cronbach's α ≥0.70). The CHRIS general health composite was significantly correlated with composite PedsQL and FDI (r = 0.28, P