The impact of pediatric chronic pain on parents' health-related quality of life and family functioning: reliability and validity of the PedsQL 4.0 Family Impact Module.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Family Impact Module (FIM), a parent self-report measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and family functioning, among parents of youth with chronic pain.

METHODS

Parents (N = 458) completed the FIM (Total Impact, HRQOL, and Family Functioning scales); parents and youth (N = 332) completed measures of pain catastrophizing, pediatric quality of life, and emotional/behavioral functioning.

RESULTS

The FIM demonstrated strong internal consistency and item-total correlations. All FIM scales were positively associated with pain catastrophizing, functional disability, and emotional/behavioral problems; and inversely related to pediatric quality of life. Mothers reported significantly worse HRQOL than fathers. Mothers and fathers did not differ on reports of Family Functioning. HRQOL and Family Functioning did not differ as a function of pain diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The FIM appears to be a suitable measure of parent self-reported HRQOL and family functioning in pediatric chronic pain.