Mutual concurrent validity of the Child Health Questionnaire and the Health Utilities Index: An exploratory analysis using survivors of childhood cancer

Mutual concurrent validity of 2 generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL), the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) and HUI3, was assessed. Data were from 3 centers participating in a Canadian multi-center retrospective cohort study currently in progress to assess psycho-social and physical late effects in children surviving >/=5 years after cancer diagnosis between 1981 and 1990. Exploratory results are from 244 parent reports on HRQL in children <16 years old when studied. Spearman rank-order correlations between sub-scale scores for the CHQ and single-attribute utility scores for the corresponding attribute from the HUI2 and HUI3 were used. As predicted, the correlation between CHQ bodily pain and HUI2 and HUI3 pain was strong, 0.58 and 0.60, respectively, while correlations between CHQ physical functioning and HUI2 mobility and HUI3 ambulation were moderate, both 0.45. Correlations between CHQ mental health and HUI2 and HUI3 emotion were strong, 0.64 and 0.54, respectively, rather than moderate, as predicted. Both the CHQ general health scale and the general health single item were moderately correlated with the HUI2 and HUI3 global utility scores rather than weakly, as predicted (CHQ general health scale and HUI2 and HUI3 global utility were 0.43 and 0.44, respectively; CHQ general health single item and HUI2 and HUI3 global utility were 0. 38 and 0.42, respectively). The CHQ and HUI, which are based on different methodologies (summative Likert scaling and utility analysis, respectively), appear to capture similar constructs in childhood cancer survivors.