Table 3. Characteristics of studies using Quality of Life (QoL) as an outcome in patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated with bracing or observation.

Reference	QoL measure	Domains	Brace Mean	Observation Mean	P value	Measure interpretation
Cheung et al.(2007)8	SRS-22 questionnaire	Function/activity	4.53	4.89	.00007	Contains 22 items in 5 domains Each item consists of 5 options scored 1–5 Each item scored separately An average of all scores can be calculated for a total score Lower the score, worse the QoL
		– Self-image	3.63	4.04	.0007
		– Pain	4.62	4.65	.7
		– Mental health	4.31	4.50	.1
		– Satisfaction	3.90	3.98	.6
		Total score	4.24	4.47	.005
Parent et al. (2009)9	SRS-22 questionnaire	Function/activity	4.5 ± 0.59	4.3 ± 0.59	.09	Contains 22 items in 5 domains Each item consists of 5 options scored 1–5 Each item scored separately Average of all scores can be calculated for total score Lower the score, worse the QoL
		– Self-image	3.6 ± 0.72	3.6 ± 0.73	1.0
		– Pain	4.3 ± 0.78	3.9 ± 0.78	.01
		– Mental health	4.0 ± 0.71	3.9 ± 0.71	.49
		– Satisfaction	4.0 ± 0.85	3.5 ± 0.85	.004
		Total score	4.1 ± 0.54	3.9 ± 0.54	.07
Pham et al. (200)11	Quality of Life Profile for Spine Deformities (QLPSD)	Psychosocial functioning	13	9	<.001	Contains 21 items from 1–5 points in 5 domains Score of 5 corresponds with worst (strongly agree), and 1 with best (strongly disagree) Total score is calculated by summing 5 domains Maximum score is 105 Higher the score, worse the QoL
		– Sleep disturbance	9.5	7	<.001
		– Back pain	8	6.25	.122
		– Body image	8.25	6	<.01
		– Back flexibility	9.25	4	<.001
		Total score	48	32.25	<.001
Ugwonali et al. (2004)12	Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ)	Physical functioning	92.7	94.2	.57	Contains 28 items in 12 health domains Each health domain when computed generates a score 0–100 (worst health state to best health state) Lower the score, worse the QoL
		– Bodily pain	76.3	78.6	.58
		– Behavior	84.0	82.0	.31
		– Mental health	84.5	84.7	.93
		– Self-esteem	85.4	85.3	.96
		– General health	77.6	81.3	.15
		– Emotional/ behavioral limits	98.3	98.0	.86
		– Physical limits	97.0	97.0	.97
		– Parental impact-emotional	71.7	76.5	.16
		– Parental impact-time	93.6	95.3	.43
		– Family activities	95.9	94.5	.41
		– Family cohesion	81.9	80.3	.58
	Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI)	– Upper extremity and physical function	98.0	98.8	.18	Contains 48 items in 6 domains Each domain when computed generates score 0–100 (worst to best) Global function and symptoms is computed as a composite of 3 physical function domains and pain and comfort domain Lower the score, worse the QoL
		Transfers and basic mobility	99.1	99.3	.70
		Sports and physical function	94.3	95.9	.09
		– Pain/comfort	88.2	91.9	.16
		– Happiness	90.1	89.3	.72
		Expectations	79.2	65.2	.02*
		Global function/symptoms	95.0	96.9	.04*

^*These differences disappeared with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Items in bold represent statistically significant associations.