Linking a short-stature specific health-related quality of life measure (QoLISSY) to the International Classification of Functioning - Children and Youth (ICF-CY).

Objective: The study aimed to examine and compare the content of the quality of life in short-stature youth questionnaire (QoLISSY) with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth (ICF-CY).

Methods: Items of the QoLISSY questionnaire for children/adolescents and their parents were coded within the framework of the ICF-CY. Linkage was performed according to predetermined standards by two health professionals experienced in the conceptual fundaments of the ICF-CY.

Results: Within the linking process 58 meaningful concepts were identified from the 55 items out of the QoLISSY parent questionnaire and 55 meaningful concepts from the 50 items of the QoLISSY (children) questionnaire. In total, 57 concepts (parent-questionnaire) and 54 concepts (children-questionnaire) were linked to the different categories of the ICF-CY. Twenty-seven categories (parents-version) and 20 categories (child-version) referred to the component body functions, 34 categories (parent-version) and 30 categories (child-version) represented the activity and participation component and in each version 30 categories represented the environmental factors component.

Conclusions: The present study indicates that the ICF-CY provides a useful frame of reference to compare and examine the content of HrQoL instruments for short-statured children and adolescents and their parents. The linkage of the QoLISSY instrument within the framework of the ICF-CY translates its content into a universal language.