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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319773
Research Project: Pediatric Clinical Nutrition

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: Interpretability of the PedsQL gastrointestinal symptoms scales and gastrointestinal worry scales in pediatric patients with functional and organic gastrointestinal diseases

Author
item VARNI, JAMES - Texas A&M University
item BENDO, CRISTIANE - Federal University Of Minas Gerais
item SHULMAN, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SELF, MARIELLA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item NURKO, SAMUEL - Boston Children'S Hospital
item FRANCIOSI, JAMES - Children'S Hospital - Cincinnati, Ohio
item SAPS, MIGUEL - Northwestern University
item SAEED, SHEHZAD - Children'S Hospital - Cincinnati, Ohio
item ZACUR, GEORGE - Children'S Hospital - Cincinnati, Ohio
item DARK, CHELSEA - Texas A&M University
item POHL, JOHN - University Of Utah

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2015
Publication Date: 2/13/2015
Citation: Varni, J.W., Bendo, C.B., Shulman, R.J., Self, M.M., Nurko, S., Franciosi, J.P., Saps, M., Saeed, S., Zacur, G.M., Dark, C.V., Pohl, J.F. 2015. Interpretability of the PedsQL gastrointestinal symptoms scales and gastrointestinal worry scales in pediatric patients with functional and organic gastrointestinal diseases. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 40(60):591-601.

Interpretive Summary: The quality of life of patients is receiving increasing attention. We developed a questionnaire that measures the quality of life of patients related to gastrointestinal problems and worrying. In this study, we determined what normal values are for this questionnaire so it can be used to compare children with gastrointestinal problems to healthy children.

Technical Abstract: The present study investigates the clinical interpretability of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventor (PedsQL) Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scales and Worry Scales in pediatric patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders or organic gastrointestinal diseases in comparison with healthy controls. The PedsQL Gastrointestinal Scales were completed by 587 patients with gastrointestinal disorders/diseases and 685 parents, and 513 healthy children and 337 parents. Minimal important difference (MID) scores were derived from the standard error of measurement (SEM). Cut-points were derived based on one and two standard deviations (SDs) from the healthy reference means. The percentages of patients below the scales' cut-points were significantly greater than the healthy controls (most p values'='.001). Scale scores 2 SDs from the healthy reference means were within the range of scores for pediatric patients with a gastrointestinal disorder. MID values were generated using the SEM.The findings support the clinical interpretability of the new PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scales and Worry Scales.