Psychometric properties of parental stress scales used in paediatric health care settings: A systematic review1

Abstract

Aim: To identify scales that assess parental stress in the paediatric clinical population and to analyse their psychometric properties.

Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus) and metasearch engines (Google Scholar and Open Grey) were searched with no time period limitations. Methodological quality was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) and quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach modified by COSMIN. Finally, recommendations were made for the instruments with the highest quality of evidence.

Results: A total of 38 studies reporting on 11 different instruments for assessing parental stress in the paediatric clinical setting were included. Six instruments were 'A' rated (recommended) in the final phase in line with COSMIN guidelines. The Paediatric Inventory for Parents was the instrument that evaluated the highest number of psychometric properties and obtained the highest methodological quality, global assessment, and quality of evidence for the different psychometric properties.

Conclusions: This systematic review provides an overview of the measurement properties of the parental stress instruments used in the paediatric clinical setting. The Paediatric Inventory for Parents stands out as being one of the most robust instruments for measuring stress in parents with a hospitalised or sick child. Evidence needs to be generated for all the parental stress scales used in the clinical setting.

Impact: Given that the psychometric properties of the existing parental stress scales used in paediatric health care settings have not been systematically assessed, the present review utilised comprehensive methods according to COSMIN.

No patient or public contribution: REPORTING METHOD: PRISMA statement and COSMIN reporting guidelines for studies on measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures.

Keywords: paediatrics; parental stress; psychological tests; validation study; validity and reliability.