# Lung life HRQoL measure: psychometric properties and initial data in presumptive TB

## TL;DR

This study evaluates HRQoL measures for young children with suspected TB in South Africa, showing their reliability and identifying common health and emotional issues.

## Contribution

The study introduces and validates the LuLi-Q measures for assessing HRQoL in young children with presumptive TB in low- and middle-income countries.

## Key findings

- The LuLi-Q-Tots showed minimal floor and ceiling effects, capturing HRQoL effectively in children aged 0–2 years.
- The LuLi-Q-Pres had high floor and ceiling effects, but reliability improved after removing 29 items.
- Common issues included medication use, anxiety, separation anxiety, and jealousy among children aged 0–5 years.

## Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data in young children with respiratory illnesses, including TB, are limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study assessed the psychometric properties of the LuLi-Q measures in South African children with presumptive TB, focusing on children aged 0–5 years.

In a cross-sectional study within the UMOYA TB diagnostic study, HRQoL data were collected using the LuLi-Q-Tots (0–2 years) and LuLi-Q-Pres (3–5 years) measures. Analyses included descriptive statistics, item–total correlations, and Cronbach’s alpha for reliability.

Among 160 children aged 0–5 years (50 aged 0–2 years, 110 aged 3–5 years), the LuLi-Q-Tots had minimal floor and ceiling effects (6.5%), effectively capturing HRQoL. The LuLi-Q-Pres showed substantial floor and ceiling effects (61%), but removing 29 items improved reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.96–0.97). Caregivers reported daily medication use (54%) and anxiety (72%) in the 0–2 group, while separation anxiety (65%) and jealousy (92%) were common in the 3–5 group.

This study establishes a foundation for reliable HRQoL measures for young children with presumptive TB, guiding future research and patient-centred care in LMICs.