OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perception of the quality of life of asthmatic children and adolescents and their parents, investigating the agreement rates in each domain using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire - Adapted (PAQLQ-A). METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted at two outpatient clinics of a university reference center for asthmatic children and adolescents in Recife, Brazil. After meeting the ethical requirements, health-related quality of life data were collected using the version of the PAQLQ adapted and translated into Portuguese. The questionnaire was answered by 126 patients (70 children and 56 adolescents) and their parents. Agreement was analyzed by the Kappa statistic test using the computer program SPSS, version 13.0, software. RESULTS: Agreement between children and parents' answers varied from "unsatisfactory" to "poor". The worst agreement rate was found in the domain symptoms, especially regarding the item "wheezing", and in the domain emotions, regarding the item "feel bothered". Agreement between adolescents and their parents' answers varied from "unsatisfactory" to "fair", with the worst agreement rate in the domain activities, especially in the item "feel bothered by not being able to be with other people", and the best agreement rate was found in the domain emotions, in the item "feel uncomfortable." CONCLUSIONS: The PAQLQ-A was not well understood by the studied population and agreement regarding the perception of the quality of life of asthmatic children and adolescents between patients and their parents was poor. Appropriate instruments adapted to regional characteristics or even revalidation of international instruments considering regional diversity should be developed.
quality of life; child; adolescent; asthma; parents
