Assessing the burden of childhood asthma: validation of electronic versions of the Mini Pediatric and Pediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaires

To validate electronic versions of the Mini Pediatric and Pediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaires (MiniPAQLQ and PACQLQ, respectively), determine completion times and correlate QOL of children and caregivers.

A total of 63 children and 64 caregivers completed the paper and electronic MiniPAQLQ or PACQLQ. Agreement between versions of each questionnaire was summarized by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The correlation between MiniPAQLQ and PACQLQ scores from child–caregiver pairs was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

There was no significant difference (mean difference = 0.1, 95 % CI −0.1, 0.2) in MiniPAQLQ Overall Scores between paper (5.9 ± 1.0, mean ± SD) and electronic (5.8 ± 1.0) versions, or any of the domains. ICCs ranged from 0.89 (Overall) to 0.86 (Emotional Function). Overall PACQLQ scores for both versions were comparable (5.9 ± 0.9 and 5.8 ± 1.0; mean difference = 0.0; 95 % CI −0.1, 0.2). ICCs ranged from 0.81 (Activity Limitation) to 0.88 (Emotional Function). The electronic PACQLQ took 26 s longer (95 % CI 11, 41; p < 0.001). Few participants (3–11 %) preferred the paper format. MiniPAQLQ and PACQLQ scores were significantly correlated (all p < 0.05) for Overall (r _paper = 0.33, r _electronic = 0.27) and Emotional Function domains (r _paper = 0.34, r _electronic = 0.29).

These electronic QOL questionnaires are valid, and asthma-related QOL of children and caregivers is related.