The German Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) can be used to assess post-concussion symptoms (PCS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults, adolescents, and children. In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the German RPQ proxy version (N = 146) for children (8—12 years) after TBI at the item, total and scale score level. Construct validity was analyzed using rank correlations with the proxy-assessed Post-Concussion Symptoms Inventory (PCSI-P), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 (GAD-7). Furthermore, sensitivity testing was performed concerning subjects’ sociodemographic and injury-related characteristics. Differential item functioning (DIF) was analyzed to assess the comparability of RPQ proxy ratings for children with those for adolescents. Good internal consistency was demonstrated regarding Cronbach’s α (0.81—0.90) and McDonald’s ω (0.84—0.92). The factorial validity of a three-factor model was superior to the original one-factor model. Proxy ratings of the RPQ total and scale scores were strongly correlated with the PCSI-P (ϱ = 0.50—0.69), as well as moderately to strongly correlated with the PHQ-9 (ϱ = 0.49—0.65) and the GAD-7 (ϱ = 0.44—0.64). The DIF analysis revealed no relevant differences between the child and adolescent proxy versions. The German RPQ proxy is a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for assessing PCS in children after TBI. Therefore, RPQ self- and proxy-ratings can be used to assess PCS in childhood as well as along the lifespan of an individual after TBI.

中文翻译：

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德国Rivermead脑震荡后症状问卷在创伤性脑损伤后儿童代理人中的适用性和临床效用：一项仪器验证研究

德国 Rivermead 脑震荡后症状问卷 (RPQ) 可用于评估成人、青少年和儿童创伤性脑损伤 (TBI) 后的脑震荡后症状 (PCS)。在这项研究中，我们检查了德国 RPQ 代理版本 (N = 146) 针对 TBI 后儿童（8-12 岁）在项目、总分和量表评分水平上的心理测量特性。使用与代理评估的脑震荡后症状量表 (PCSI-P)、患者健康问卷 9 (PHQ-9) 和广泛性焦虑障碍量表 7 (GAD-7) 的等级相关性来分析结构效度。此外，还对受试者的社会人口学和伤害相关特征进行了敏感性测试。分析差异项目功能 (DIF)，以评估儿童和青少年 RPQ 代理评级的可比性。 Cronbach's α (0.81-0.90) 和 McDonald's ω (0.84-0.92) 具有良好的内部一致性。三因素模型的因子效度优于原始的单因素模型。 RPQ 总分和量表分数的代理评级与 PCSI-P (ϱ = 0.50—0.69) 强相关，与 PHQ-9 (ϱ = 0.49—0.65) 和 GAD-7 ( ϱ = 0.44—0.64）。 DIF 分析显示儿童和青少年代理版本之间没有相关差异。德国 RPQ 代理是一种在心理测量上可靠且有效的工具，用于评估 TBI 后儿童的 PCS。因此，RPQ 自我评分和代理评分可用于评估儿童时期的 PCS 以及 TBI 后个体的一生。