METHODS.
To validate a patient-report form and a parent-report form, the PCQLfornia, San Diego, School of Medicine, San 32 was administered to 291 pediatric cancer patients and to their parents. Both Diego, California.
forms yield a total score and five a priori multidimensional scales. Clinical validity 2 Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's was determined by the known-groups approach by comparing patients classified Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, Califoras either on or off treatment. To determine construct validity, a battery of standardnia.
ized psychosocial measures was administered and a multitrait-multimethod matrix 3 Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diswas constructed. eases, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Depart-
RESULTS.
For both patient and parent forms, internal consistency reliability of the ment of Pediatrics, University of Southern Cali-PCQL-32 total scale was high (0.91 and 0.92, respectively). The internal consistency fornia School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Califorreliabilities of the five component scales for both patient and parent forms were nia.
in the acceptable range for group comparisons. With regard to clinical validity, 4 Center for Child Health Outcomes, Children's the PCQL-32 total scale and the disease/treatment and physical functioning scales Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, Califorof the PCQL-32 distinguished between patients on and off treatment for both nia.
patient-and parent-report. The results of the multitrait-multimethod matrix ap-5 UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Cliniproach were consistent with hypotheses and lent evidence for the construct validity cal Psychology, University of California San of the patient and parent forms of the PCQL-32 total scale and the psychological Diego, San Diego State University, San Diego, functioning, social functioning, cognitive functioning, physical functioning, and California.
disease/treatment scales.
CONCLUSIONS.
The PCQL-32 has demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability, clinical validity, and construct validity for both patient-report and parent-report forms. Further field testing of the PCQL-32 will determine its practicality and utility in multisite pediatric cancer randomized controlled clinical trials.