[Development of quality of life assessment scale for caregivers of asthmatic children (QOLCA-24)]

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: We developed the health related QOL questionnaire which is specific for a caregiver of an asthmatic child, who has been treated based on JPGL (Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma). METHOD: Based on the answers collected anonymously or with interviews concerning caregivers' quality of life influenced by having children with asthma, the multiple choice secondary questionnaire was made. Through psycho-analytic procedures of the data from secondary survey 24-item questionnaire (QOLCA-24) has been developed. RESULT: Factor analysis revealed 11 factor structure of QOLCA-24. Internal consistency (cronbach alpha) of whole 24 items was 0.942. kappa value which showed repetition plasticity was 0.27-0.53. The responsiveness associated with change of symptoms were significant in the items of factor 1 (Fear of asthma attack) and factor 7 (Job related burden of the caregiver). The score of most factors in QOLCA-24 were correlated with score of each item in SF-8. CONCLUSION: QOLCA-24 is thought to be useful as a tool to evaluate QOL of caregivers with asthmatic children.

Author information

Author/s: Watanabe, Hiroko (H); Katsunuma, Toshio (T); Kondo, Naomi (N); Akasawa, Akira (A); Ohya, Yukihiro (Y);

Affiliation: Department of Allergy, National Center for Child Health and Development. watanabe-h(-atsign-)ncchd.go.jp

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Arerugi = [Allergy] (Arerugi), published in Japan. (Language: jpn)

Reference: 2008-Dec; vol 57 (issue 12) : pp 1302-16

Dates: Created 2009/01/26; Completed 2009/03/30;

PMID: 19169085, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 3/30/2009, IMS Date: 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00)

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