The Internet is valid and reliable for child-report: An example using the Activities Scale for Kids (ASK) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)

OBJECTIVE: This study tested the impact of web administration on well-established measures of children's physical function and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants were recruited from clinics at six hospitals. They completed the Activities Scale for Kids (ASK) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires twice, in a crossover design that used paper and web-based modes of administration. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the validity of the new web formats relative to the original paper formats and their test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Sixty-nine children ranging in age from 8.0 to 13.4 years (mean=11.0 years) completed the study. The sample included children with cerebral palsy (19), spina bifida (23), and cystic fibrosis (27). The mean ASK score was 77.5 and the mean PedsQL score was 69.1. The intermethod intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.98 (lower limit 0.94) for the ASK and 0.64 (lower limit 0.35) for the PedsQL. These compare to intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.99 and 0.94, respectively, for traditional paper formats. CONCLUSION: The web ASK was valid in comparison to the original paper format. Consistency in mode of administration may be more important when using the PedsQL. Both measures were highly reliable on paper and on the web.