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To describe the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to examine the usefulness of the Juvenile Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JAQQ) in a UK context. It was hypothesized that HRQOL would decrease with worsening disease and disability.

Patients with JIA ages 11, 14, and 17 years were recruited from 10 major rheumatology centers. HRQOL was measured using the JAQQ. Other data were core outcome variables including the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, demographic characteristics, arthritis‐related knowledge, and satisfaction with health care.

Questionnaires were completed by 308 adolescents. One‐fifth had persistent oligoarthritis. Median disease duration was 5.7 years (range <1–16 years). The JAQQ was shown to have good psychometric properties when used in the UK, but was not without …