Validation of the Ukrainian version of the PedsQLTM 4.0 Generic Core Scales in children and adolescents with vasovagal syncope

Introduction
The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Ukrainian translation of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales for Ukrainian children and adolescents with vasovagal syncope, as well as to study health-related quality of life in this group of paediatric patients.

Material and methods
We studied 56 children, aged eight to 17 years, with a history of vasovagal syncope, and 41 healthy volunteers. Health-related quality of life assessment was performed using the Ukrainian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales for child self-reporting and parent proxy-reporting.

Results
There were no significant floor or ceiling effects for any of the summary or scale scores for patient self-reporting and parent proxy-reporting. Cronbach’s  coefficient for PedsQL total score for patient self-reporting was 0.90, and for parent proxy-reporting it was 0.88. Paediatric patients with vasovagal syncope (67.92 ±14.52; 77.36 ±21.73; p = 0.01) and their parents (65.13 ±13.94; 71.77 ±13.76; p = 0.02) reported worse PedsQL total scores than healthy children. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, almost all items of child self-reporting and parent proxy-reporting had a clear factor loading. Regarding construct validity, the results revealed a positive linear relationship between the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales and Modified Calgary Syncope Seizure Score, PedsQL™ General Well-Being Scale, and PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Calculation of Pearson’s correlation index revealed moderate (0.41–0.60) to good (0.61–0.80) child-parent agreement.

Conclusions
The results demonstrate the feasibility, reliability, validity, and agreement between child self-reporting and parent proxy-reporting of the Ukrainian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales for health-related quality of life assessment in children and adolescents with vasovagal syncope. These patients have lower psychosocial health, emotional functioning, and social functioning in comparison to healthy children and adolescents.