Validating the Ontario Child Health Study Emotional Behavioural Scales‐Brief Version (OCHS‐EBS‐B) in children with chronic physical illness

Background A substantial proportion of children have a physical illness; these children commonly experience physical–mental comorbidity. To assess child mental health, brief scales that can be used in clinical and research settings are needed. This study assessed the validity and reliability of parent‐reported Ontario Child Health Study Emotional Behavioural Scale‐Brief Version (OCHS‐EBS‐B) scores. Methods Data come from a longitudinal study of children aged 2–16 years with a physical illness recruited from outpatient clinics at a pediatric hospital. Confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald's coefficient assessed the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the OCHS‐EBS‐B, respectively. Point biserial correlations assessed agreement between the OCHS‐EBS‐B and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI‐KID), a structured diagnostic interview. The Wilcoxon rank sum test compared OCHS‐EBS‐B scores between children with versus without physical–mental comorbidity (known‐group validity). Results The three‐factor structure of the OCHS‐EBS‐B was replicated in this sample of children with physical illness (χ 2 = 196.23(272), p < 0.001; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98; SRMR = 0.06; RMSEA [90% CI] = 0.034 [0.027, 0.044]). It had excellent internal consistency reliability (ω = 0.86–0.92) and was moderately correlated with the MINI‐KID (baseline: r pb = 0.43–0.51; 6 months: r pb = 0.55–0.65). OCHS‐EBS‐B scores were significantly higher among children with versus without physical–mental comorbidity. Conclusions Findings confirm psychometric evidence that the OCHS‐EBS‐B is a valid and reliable measure of mental health in children with chronic physical illness. Its brevity and robust psychometric properties make the OCHS‐EBS‐B a strong candidate for routine use in integrated pediatric physical and mental health services.