Validity of the DISABKIDS® - Cystic Fibrosis Module for Brazilian children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES: to validate the health-related quality of life measuring instrument DISABKIDS(r) - Cystic Fibrosis Module (self version) for Brazilian children and adolescents.

METHOD: methodological study in which a sample of 113 participants (54 girls and 59 boys; mean age 11.91 years and SD=2.79) was considered, from four Brazilian states, São Paulo, Paraná, Minas Gerais and the Federal District, 51 of whom participated in the pilot study and 62 in the field study. The answers to the questionnaire were analyzed, considering the frequency distributions with regard to the floor and ceiling effects, Cronbach's Alpha statistics, Pearson's Linear Correlation Coefficient, Mulitrait-Multimethod analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis according to Structural Equations Modeling.

RESULTS: the instrument showed a high internal consistency coefficient (verified using Cronbach's Alpha) and construct validity, according to the Multitrait-Multimethod analysis. The DISABKIDS(r) - Cystic Fibrosis Module, self version, maintained the same factorial structure as in the originally proposed model.

CONCLUSION: the instrument validation has been finished and indicates that the self version is validated for use in Brazil and can be included into the monitoring routine of this population.