The European KIDSCREEN approach to measure quality of life and well-being in children: development, current application, and future advances

TLDR

The KIDSCREEN questionnaires, developed by European pediatric researchers, provide a standardized, cross‑culturally comparable measure of quality of life for children in epidemiologic surveys and clinical studies. This article reviews the development of KIDSCREEN, its extensive applications across Europe, and the creation of a new computerized adaptive test (KIDS‑CAT) derived from KIDSCREEN data. KIDSCREEN was simultaneously developed in 13 countries using classical test theory and item response theory, and the KIDS‑CAT was built in partnership with the US PROMIS project using archival survey data and advanced IRT modeling. KIDSCREEN is a reliable, valid, and sensitive QoL instrument used in 38 countries, with available national norms; its use has generated new insights for pediatric care and the KIDS‑CAT offers a precise, efficient, and internet‑based assessment that may further advance pediatric health measurement.

Abstract

The KIDSCREEN questionnaires were developed by a collaborative effort of European pediatric researchers for use in epidemiologic public health surveys, clinical intervention studies, and research projects. The article gives an overview of the development of the tool, summarizes its extensive applications in Europe, and describes the development of a new computerized adaptive test (KIDS-CAT) based on KIDSCREEN experiences.The KIDSCREEN versions (self-report and proxy versions with 52, 27, and 10 items) were simultaneously developed in 13 different European countries to warrant cross-cultural applicability, using methods based on classical test theory (CTT: descriptive statistics, CFA and MAP, internal consistency, retest reliability measures) and item response theory (IRT: Rasch modeling, DIF analyses, etc.). The KIDS-CAT was developed (in cooperation with the US pediatric PROMIS project) based on archival data of European KIDSCREEN health surveys using IRT more extensively (IRC).Research has shown that the KIDSCREEN is a reliable, valid, sensitive, and conceptually/linguistically appropriate QoL measure in 38 countries/languages by now. European and national norm data are available. New insights from KIDSCREEN studies stimulate pediatric health care. Based on KIDSCREEN, the Kids-CAT promises to facilitate a very efficient, precise, as well as reliable and valid assessment of QoL.The KIDSCREEN has standardized QoL measurement in Europe in children as a valid and cross-cultural comparable tool. The Kids-CAT has the potential to further advance pediatric health measurement and care via Internet application.