Reliability and validity of the Turkish translation of the pedsql™ 3.0 neuromuscular module for 2-to 4-year-olds in spinal muscular atrophy

Background The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (TM) (PedsQL (TM)) Neuromuscular Module (PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM) evaluates the health-related quality of life in children who are affected by neuromuscular diseases. This study's aim is to assess the adaptation of the PedsQL (TM) T 3.0 NM Turkish version (PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR) for 2- to 4-year-olds in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods The procedure of translating the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM into Turkish was conducted in accordance with the translation methodology outlined by the PedsQL (TM) measurement model. The PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR was administered to 54 parents of children with SMA aged 2 to 4 years. The test-retest reliability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were measured for reliability analysis. Cronbach's a coefficient and item score correlations were calculated for internal consistency. Concurrent construct validity was evaluated by Pearson correlations between the outcomes of the PedsQL (TM) 4.0 Generic Core Scale (PedsQL (TM) 4.0 GCS) and the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM. Results The PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR total score shows excellent reliability. The Cronbach's a values for the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM ranged between 0.871 and 0.906, while those for the PedsQL (TM) 4.0 GCS ranged between 0.843 and 0.897. Test-retest ICC values for the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR ranged between 0.812 and 0.917, and for the PedsQL (TM) 4.0 GCS ranged between 0.773 and 0.899. The relationship between the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR and the subscores of the PedsQL (TM) 4.0 GCS demonstrated a range of correlations from excellent to fair, indicating the interplay between two scales. Conclusion This study established the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 NM-TR as reliable, valid, and feasible for use in children aged 2 to 4 years with SMA.