The Serbian version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ)
Susic, G.; Ruperto, N.; Stojanovic, R.; Gacic, D.; Pilipovic, N.; Pasic, S.; Jovanovic, M.; Minic, A.; Vukojevic, P.; Limic, B.; Djordjevic, S.; Milenkovic, M.; Plecas, D.; Milenkovic, P.; Martini, A.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 19(4 Suppl. 23): S168-S172
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-856X PMID: 11510324 Document Number: 526142
We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Serbian language of the parentís version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease. The Serbian CHAQ-CHQ were fully validated with 3 forward and 1 backward translations. A total of 139 subjects were enrolled: 79 patients with JIA (30% systemic onset, 28% polyarticular onset, 6% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 36% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 60 healthy children. The CHAQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and a lower overall well-being when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic onset, polyarticular onset and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Serbian version of the CHAQ-CHQ is a reliable, and valid tool for the functional, physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA.