Abstract
Aim
The study aimed to examine the construct validity of the EuroQol Five-Dimensional Questionnaire, Three-level, Youth Version (EQ-5D-Y-3L) Japanese version in populations with specific diseases, in particular childhood cancer survivors, compared to the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).
Methods
This study analyzed EQ-5D-Y-3L and PedsQL data obtained from childhood cancer survivors after proton beam therapy in Japan. The EQ-5D-Y-3L utility and the PedsQL scores were summarized. Direct and conceptual associations between EQ-5D-Y-3L and the PedsQL were hypothesized to examine the construct validity of the EQ-5D-Y-3L. The association was considered to be supported with a significant correlation (correlation coefficient ≥ |0.3|).
Results
The mean EQ-5D-Y-3L utility was 0.92. The mean PedsQL scale scores were slightly below 90. The correlation between the EQ-5D-Y-3L utility and the PedsQL total scale score was 0.60 as significant correlation, with limited sample size, 37. Almost all of the associations between the EQ-5D-Y-3L dimensions and the PedsQL domains and individual questions within each domain in our hypotheses were ≥ |0.3|, and our hypotheses were supported.
Conclusions
The construct validity of the EQ-5D-Y-3L Japanese version was demonstrated in childhood cancer survivors. Our study is the first to show the construct validity of the EQ-5D-Y-3L in childhood cancer survivors internationally, and in populations with specific diseases in Japan.
