Abstract

Background

The German Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) can be used to assess post-concussion symptoms (PCS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults, adolescents, and children.

Methods

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the German RPQ proxy version (N = 146) for children (8—12 years) after TBI at the item, total and scale score level. Construct validity was analyzed using rank correlations with the proxy-assessed Post-Concussion Symptoms Inventory (PCSI-P), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 (GAD-7). Furthermore, sensitivity testing was performed concerning subjects’ sociodemographic and injury-related characteristics. Differential item functioning (DIF) was analyzed to assess the comparability of RPQ proxy ratings for children with those for adolescents.

Results

Good internal consistency was demonstrated regarding Cronbach’s α (0.81—0.90) and McDonald’s ω (0.84—0.92). The factorial validity of a three-factor model was superior to the original one-factor model. Proxy ratings of the RPQ total and scale scores were strongly correlated with the PCSI-P (ϱ = 0.50—0.69), as well as moderately to strongly correlated with the PHQ-9 (ϱ = 0.49—0.65) and the GAD-7 (ϱ = 0.44—0.64). The DIF analysis revealed no relevant differences between the child and adolescent proxy versions.

Conclusions

The German RPQ proxy is a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for assessing PCS in children after TBI. Therefore, RPQ self- and proxy-ratings can be used to assess PCS in childhood as well as along the lifespan of an individual after TBI.

Details

Title
Applicability and clinical utility of the German rivermead post-concussion symptoms questionnaire in proxies of children after traumatic brain injury: an instrument validation study
Author
Bockhop, Fabian; Greving, Sven; Zeldovich, Marina; Krenz, Ugne; Cunitz, Katrin; Timmermann, Dagmar; Kieslich, Matthias; Andelic, Nada; Buchheim, Anna; Koerte, Inga K; Roediger, Maike; Brockmann, Knut; Bonfert, Michaela V; Berweck, Steffen; Lendt, Michael; Staebler, Michael
Pages
1-13
Section
Research
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
14712377
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3054185451
Copyright
© 2024. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.