Development and assessment of a shortened Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE‐55)

Summary Objective To develop and validate a shortened version of the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE). A secondary aim was to compare baseline risk factors predicting health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in children newly diagnosed with epilepsy, as identified using the original and shortened version. Methods Data came from the Health‐Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study (HERQULES, N = 373), a multicenter prospective cohort study. Principal component analysis reduced the number of items from the original QOLCE, and factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the shortened version. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed by correlating the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) with the shortened QOLCE. Multiple regression identified risk factors at diagnosis for HRQoL at 24 months. Results A four‐factor, higher‐order, 55‐item solution was obtained. A total of 21 items were removed. The final model represents functioning in four dimensions of HRQoL: Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Physical. The shortened QOLCE demonstrated acceptable fit: Bentler's Comparative Fit Index = 0.944; Tucker‐Lewis Index = 0.942; root mean square approximation = 0.058 (90% CI: 0.056–0.061); weighted root mean square residuals (WRMR) = 1.582, and excellent internal consistency (α = 0.96, subscales α > 0.80). Factor loadings were good (first‐order: λ = 0.66–0.93; higher‐order λ = 0.66–0.85; p