LEVEL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN RATING DYSFUNCTIONIN JUVENILE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS AND JUVENILE SPONDYLOARTHRITIDES

Objective. To determine the level of agreement between parents and chi ldren in rating dysfunction in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and juvenile spondyloarthritides. Methods. We conducted separate intervie ws (parents and patients) of children greater than or equal to; 9 year s of age with JRA and spondyloarthritis attending our clinic. A questi onnaire consisting of 100 probes (57 physical activities, 26 psychosoc ial issues and 17 general symptoms) was used. Probes were scored by re spondents on a 6-point scale for their frequency of occurrence (all pr obes) and importance to the patient physical activities, only), giving a total of 157 scores. Forty patients were included. Level of agreeme nt between patients and parents was determined by weighted kappa (kapp a). Results. Mean kappa for all scores was 0.60; gross motor 0.51, fin e motor 0.64, psychosocial 0.56 and general symptoms 0.64. One hundred and forty scores (89%) showed at least moderate agreement. Conclusion s. Our data confirm that there is good parent-child agreement on the l evel of dysfunction of children greater than or equal to 9 years of ag e with JRA and spondyloarthritis. This level of agreement extends over a wide range of general symptoms and includes physical and psychosoci al function. Thus both the parent and the child are reliable informant s on the impact of chronic arthritis on the quality of life of affecte d children and either can be used for this type of assessment.