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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #395899
Research Project: Microbiota and Nutritional Health

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: PedsQL(TM) gastroparesis symptoms module domain and item development: Qualitative methods

Author
item VARNI, JAMES - Texas A&M University
item SHULMAN, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SELF, MARIELLA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item FEBO-RODRIGUEZ, LIZ - University Of Miami
item CHARRON, HEATHER - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item WILLIAMS, KENT - Nationwide Children'S Hospital
item NURKO, SAM - Boston Children'S Hospital
item ROSEN, RACHEL - Boston Children'S Hospital
item CHUMPITAZI, BRUNO - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2021
Publication Date: 8/1/2021
Citation: Varni, J.W., Shulman, R.J., Self, M.M., Febo-Rodriguez, L., Charron, H., Williams, K., Nurko, S., Rosen, R.L., Chumpitazi, B.P. 2021. PedsQL(TM) gastroparesis symptoms module domain and item development: Qualitative methods. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 73(2):192-196. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000003146.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000003146

Interpretive Summary: Children who have very slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis) have symptoms such as belly pain and nausea. In this study we interviewed children with slow stomach emptying to learn exactly what symptoms they have. Going forward this information will be used to decide what outcomes should be used when testing different treatments in these children.

Technical Abstract: Like adults, children suffer from gastroparesis; however, there are currently no validated instruments to determine the impact of gastroparesis in pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to develop the items and domains to support the content validity of the new Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQLTM) Gastroparesis Symptoms Module. Patients were recruited from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Pediatric Gastroparesis Registry. The qualitative methods involved an iterative process comprising a literature review of existing questionnaires and gastroparesis clinical research, an expert review panel of pediatric gastroenterologists who provided feedback on the conceptual framework in developing the semi-structured interview, and in-depth focus interviews with six pediatric patients with gastroparesis and five of their parents (one did not participate) in developing relevant domains and item content. In the subsequent cognitive interviews phase, five additional patients with gastroparesis and their parents provided detailed feedback on item content, relevance, importance, and understandability of the domains and items. Ten domains/scales were derived from the qualitative methods, with item content saturation achieved at 67 items, with no further themes or content identified during the final cognitive interviews. The Module is comprised of 10 individual scales measuring nausea, stomach fullness when eating, vomiting, dry heaves, heartburn and reflux, stomach pain and hurt, food and drink limits, bloating, appetite, and worry. Our study supports the content validity of the new PedsQL Gastroparesis Symptoms Module. The Module field test study will be conducted in a multisite national study.