Abhaya V Kulkarni1, Ruth Donnelly, Iffat Shams. 1. Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. abhaya.kulkarni@sickkids.ca
Abstract
OBJECT: The Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire (HOQ) is an established means of measuring quality of life, but the cognitive component of this questionnaire has never been formally compared with gold-standard neuropsychological test scores. The authors hypothesized that the HOQ Cognitive Health score would demonstrate a relatively strong correlation with neuropsychological test scores, whereas much weaker correlations would be seen for HOQ Physical and Social-Emotional Health scores. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of children with long-standing hydrocephalus presenting to The Hospital for Sick Children's Neurosurgery Clinic was performed between July 2006 and September 2008. Participating children and families completed the HOQ and a battery of 21 standard neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. Pearson correlation analysis was then performed. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (81% participation) was accrued; the mean age was 11.5 ± 3.4 years (mean ± SD) at the time of assessment. The mean age at hydrocephalus treatment was 1.3 ± 2.6 years. The mean overall HOQ score was 0.69 ± 0.21. The HOQ Cognitive score had a moderate or strong correlation with 19 (90%) of 21 neuropsychological test scores, much more so than the HOQ Social-Emotional score (5 moderate or strong correlations, 24%) and the HOQ Physical score (1 moderate correlation, 5%). For 19 neuropsychological tests (90%), the HOQ Cognitive score had a stronger correlation than the other scores. The HOQ Cognitive score had particularly strong correlations with the Verbal IQ, List Learning, Behavior Problems, and Metacognitive Abilities components. CONCLUSIONS: Data from a wide-ranging representative sample of children with long-standing hydrocephalus provide added evidence of the validity of the HOQ Cognitive score and the overall domain structure of the HOQ itself.
OBJECT: The Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire (HOQ) is an established means of measuring quality of life, but the cognitive component of this questionnaire has never been formally compared with gold-standard neuropsychological test scores. The authors hypothesized that the HOQ Cognitive Health score would demonstrate a relatively strong correlation with neuropsychological test scores, whereas much weaker correlations would be seen for HOQ Physical and Social-Emotional Health scores. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of children with long-standing hydrocephalus presenting to The Hospital for Sick Children's Neurosurgery Clinic was performed between July 2006 and September 2008. Participating children and families completed the HOQ and a battery of 21 standard neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. Pearson correlation analysis was then performed. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (81% participation) was accrued; the mean age was 11.5 ± 3.4 years (mean ± SD) at the time of assessment. The mean age at hydrocephalus treatment was 1.3 ± 2.6 years. The mean overall HOQ score was 0.69 ± 0.21. The HOQ Cognitive score had a moderate or strong correlation with 19 (90%) of 21 neuropsychological test scores, much more so than the HOQ Social-Emotional score (5 moderate or strong correlations, 24%) and the HOQ Physical score (1 moderate correlation, 5%). For 19 neuropsychological tests (90%), the HOQ Cognitive score had a stronger correlation than the other scores. The HOQ Cognitive score had particularly strong correlations with the Verbal IQ, List Learning, Behavior Problems, and Metacognitive Abilities components. CONCLUSIONS: Data from a wide-ranging representative sample of children with long-standing hydrocephalus provide added evidence of the validity of the HOQ Cognitive score and the overall domain structure of the HOQ itself.