Utility and validity measures of HrQoL instrument from 4,848 school children with complete questionnaire data.

This study was conducted between November 2011 and February 2012 in 92 schools all over Côte d'Ivoire.
aFloor and ceiling correspond to the percentage of scores at the minimum (0) and maximum (100) of the scaling range. Floor or ceiling effects ≤15% are considered acceptable and providing reliable estimates [44].
bAll items of the HrQoL instrument added up to the Cronbach α values indicating measurement of the same concept. Values of α≥0.7 are recommended for comparison between groups [56].
To assess the relationship between HrQoL and VAS scores with symptom and disease reporting, a variable providing the total number of self-reported symptoms (n = 11) and diseases (n = 8) for each child was generated first, with a possible range of 0 to 19. Subsequently, Spearman rank correlation and linear regression analysis was performed with instrument scores in relation to the number of self-reported morbidities. All correlations and associations where of negative direction indicating decreasing HrQoL scores for increasing numbers of self-reported symptoms and diseases.
Similarly, a summary variable for 7 examined clinical signs (i.e., anemia, fever, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, stunting, underweight, and wasting) was generated, with a possible range of 0 to 7, and relationship with HrQoL and VAS scores assessed using linear regression analysis. Particularly the physical health domain showed strong negative association with increased number of clinical signs.
*Statistically significant (p<0.05).
Utility and validity measures of HrQoL instrument from 4,848 school children with complete questionnaire data.