Reference Values for the German Version of the Quality of Life after Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents (QOLIBRI-KID/ADO) from a General Population Sample

TL;DR

This study provides reference values for a German questionnaire measuring quality of life in children and adolescents after brain injury, validated against a general population.

Contribution

The study establishes psychometrically valid reference values for the German QOLIBRI-KID/ADO questionnaire in a general pediatric population.

Findings

The QOLIBRI-KID/ADO demonstrated strong psychometric properties in a general German-speaking pediatric population.

Reference values were determined using percentile-based stratification based on factors influencing HRQoL.

Measurement invariance confirmed the HRQoL construct was measured equivalently in both general and TBI populations.

Abstract

Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been limited in children and adolescents due to a lack of disease-specific instruments. To fill this gap, the Quality of Life after Traumatic Brain Injury for Children and Adolescents (QOLIBRI-KID/ADO) Questionnaire was developed for the German-speaking population. Reference values from a comparable general population are essential for comprehending the impact of TBI on health and well-being. This study examines the validity of the German QOLIBRI-KID/ADO in a general pediatric population in Germany and provides reference values for use in clinical practice. Overall, 1997 children and adolescents aged 8–17 years from the general population and 300 from the TBI population participated in this study. The questionnaire was tested for reliability and validity. A measurement invariance (MI) approach was used to assess the comparability of the HRQoL construct between both samples. Reference values were determined by percentile-based stratification according to factors that significantly influenced HRQoL in regression analyses. The QOLIBRI-KID/ADO demonstrated strong psychometric properties. The HRQoL construct was measured largely equivalently in both samples, and reference values could be provided. The QOLIBRI-KID/ADO was considered reliable and valid for assessing HRQoL in a general German-speaking pediatric population, allowing for clinically meaningful comparisons between general and TBI populations.

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