Article

PURPOSE: To systematically review research concerning parent-child agreement in
health-related assessments to reveal overall agreement, directions of agreement,
and the factors that affect agreement in ratings. METHOD: The Uni-Search and five
additional databases were searched. Children's health issues were grouped into
psychosocial issues including autism and ADHD, and physical and performance
issues including pain. Measures used for comparison were those addressing (a)
psychosocial functioning, (b) physical and performance functioning, and (c)
health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Totally, 39 studies met the inclusion
criteria, comprising 44 analyses in all since four studies contained more than
one analyses. Moderate child-parent agreement was demonstrated in 23 analyses and
poor agreement in 20 analyses. Several analyses found more agreement on
observable/external than on non-observable/internal domains. Overall, parents
considered their children had more difficulties than did the children themselves,
although there were indications that for children with physical performance
issues, parents may underreport their children's difficulties in emotional
functioning and pain. There were no consistencies in differences between
children's and parent's ratings on levels of agreement with respect to the
children's health issue, age or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies between child
and parent reports seem to reflect their different perspectives and not merely
inaccuracy or bias. Implications for Rehabilitation In general, parents consider
their children to have more difficulties - or more extensive difficulties - than
the children themselves think they have. The perspectives of the child and his or
her parents should be sought whenever possible since both constitute important
information concerning the child s health and well-being. Children with physical
and performance issues reported more difficulties than their parents concerning
the children's emotional functioning and pain. Clinicians should prioritize
obtaining children's views on subjective aspects such as emotional issues as well
as on pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS