Epilepsy-specific patient-reported outcome measures of children's health-related quality of life: A systematic review of measurement properties

Epilepsia. 2020 Feb;61(2):230-248. doi: 10.1111/epi.16430. Epub 2020 Jan 17.

Abstract

Objective: To identify and appraise published evidence of the measurement properties for epilepsy-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: We searched multiple databases for studies evaluating the measurement properties of English-language epilepsy-specific PROMs of children's HRQoL. We assessed the methodological quality using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidance. We extracted data about the content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, proxy reliability, responsiveness, and precision, and assessed the measurement properties with reference to standardized criteria.

Results: We identified 27 papers that evaluated 11 PROMs. Methodological quality was variable. Construct validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were more commonly assessed. Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QoLCE) questionnaires are parent-reported and evaluated more than other PROMs; QoLCE-55 has good and replicated evidence for structural and construct validity and internal consistency. Health-Related Quality of Life Measure for Children with Epilepsy (CHEQoL) has both child and parent-reported versions and good evidence of content, structural, and construct validity.

Significance: This review identified two leading candidate epilepsy-specific PROMs for measuring health-related quality of life in children. Establishing evidence of the responsiveness of PROMs is a priority to help the interpretation of meaningful change scores.

Keywords: children; epilepsy; paediatric; patient-reported outcome measures; young people.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Health
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epilepsy / psychology*
  • Epilepsy / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Treatment Outcome