Conceptually the KIDSCREEN instruments are based on the definition of health-related quality of life as a multidimensional construct covering physical, emotional, mental, social and behavioural components of well-being and functioning as perceived by patients and/or other individuals.
Furthermore they are generic health related quality of life measures for use in both healthy and chronically ill populations. A developmental approach is taken towards quality of life, which is based on the literature on HRQoL and instrument development [Bullinger and Ravens-Sieberer 1995; Eiser and others 1999; Eiser and Morse 2001a].
The KIDSCREEN project used a simultaneous approach to include 13 European countries in the cross-cultural harmonisation and development of the measures. The generation of the KIDSCREEN instruments was based on literature reviews, expert consultation and focus groups in all participating countries. The objective thereby was to identify HRQoL dimensions and items relevant to respondents in all countries. The KIDSCREEN approach followed a methodology which consists of several work phases (work packages) reflecting a stepwise instrument development procedure. The following paragraphs will give a short overview of the aims and methodology of the different work packages.
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