The Turkish version of childhood health assessment questionnaire and determination of validity and reliability in juvenil chronic arthritis

ABSTRACT The Turkish Version of Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire and Determination of Validity and Reliability in Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (JCA) In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the validity and reliability of Turkish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ). According to EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) criteria 30 JCA patients (16 male and 14 female) with age of 10.15±3.91 (2-16) whose duration of disease 55.33±39.51month were taken into study. The original CHAQ was translated and adapted into Turkish. Construct validity with disease activity measurement and functional status measurement, test-retest reliability with over two week interval, interobserver reliability between parent and child, internal reliability with intercomponent analyses were evaluated. The mean time of questionnaire completed for children was 10.9±4.7 (5-20) min., while it was 8.64±3.58 (3-20) for parents. The mean Disability index (DI) was 0.76±0.78 (0-2.25). Systemic and polyarticular onset JCA had higher DI. DI with Steinbrocker Functional Class and physician disease activity scores was correlated (r=0.61 p<0.05 and r=0.59 p<0.001 respectively). DI were also highly correlated with parents and physician global assessment. Test-retest reliability were determined r=0.96 p<0.001 for children and r=0.84 p<0.001 for parents. Interobserver reliability were determined r=0.84 p<0.001 for first visit and r=0.77 p<0.001 for second visit. Internal reliabilty was significantly high with Cronbach's a method (0,91). In pain assessment, there was a significant correlation between VAS and face scala in both visit (r=0.67 p<0.001 and r= 0.79 p<0.001 respectively). In conclusion, the Turkish version of CHAQ was determined as a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessment of health in JCA patients. Keywords: Juvenile Chronic Arthritis, Health Status, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, Turkish CHAQ, Functional Disability VII