Determinants of health-related quality of life in school-aged children: A general population study in the Netherlands

Background: Health related quality of life is the functional effect of a medical condition and/or its therapy upon a patient, and as such is particularly suitable for describing the general health of children. The objective of this study was to identify and confirm potential determinants of health-related quality of life in children aged 4-11 years in the general population in the Netherlands. Understanding such determinants may provide insights into more targeted public health policy. Methods: As part of a population based cross sectional study, the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) Parental Form 28 was used to measure health-related quality of life in school-aged children in a general population sample. Parents of 10,651 children aged 4-11 years were interviewed from January 2001 to December 2009. Results: Multivariate and regression analyses demonstrated a declined CHQ Physical Summary score for children who had >1 conditions, disorders or acute health complaints and who were greater consumers of healthcare; children with a non-western immigrant background; and children whose parents did not work. Lower CHQ Psychosocial Summary score was reported for children who had >1 conditions, disorders or acute health complaints, boys, children of single parents and obese children. Conclusion: The best predictors of health-related quality of life are variables that describe use of health care and the number of disorders and health complaints. Nonetheless, a number of demographic, socio-economic and family/environmental determinants contribute to a child's health-related quality of life as well

Childhood chronic conditions and health-related quality of life: Findings from a large population-based study

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) across prevalent chronic conditions, individually and comorbid, in school-aged children in the Netherlands. 5301 children aged 4±11 years from the Dutch Health Interview Survey were included. Parents completed questionnaires regarding child and parental characteristics. HRQOL of children was measured using the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 28 (CHQ-PF28). Independent-t tests were used to assess differences in the mean scores of the CHQ-PF28 summary scales and profile scales between children with a prevalent chronic condition (excluding or including children with multiple chronic conditions) and children without a chronic condition. Cohen's effect sizes (d) were calculated to assess the clinical significance of difference. The mean age of children was 7.55 (SD 2.30) years; 50.0% were boys. In children without any chronic condition, the mean score of physical summary scale (PhS) was 58.53 (SD 4.28) and mean score of the psychosocial summary scale (PsS) was 53.86 (SD 5.87). Generally, PhS and/or PsS scores in children with only one condition were lower (p<0.05) than for children without chronic conditions. When children with multiple conditions were included, mean scores of CHQ-PF28 summary and profile scales were generally lower than when they were excluded. The present study shows important information regarding the impact of prevalent chronic conditions on HRQOL in a representative population-based sample of school-aged children in the Netherlands. The information could be used for developing a more holistic approach to patient care and a surveillance framework for health promotion

Correction: Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in School-Aged Children: A General Population Study in the Netherlands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125083.]

CHQ-PF28 scales, number of items per scale, and score interpretation.

<p>a. From the CHQ manual [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0125083#pone.0125083.ref002" target="_blank">2</a>]. Reproduced with permission from JM Landgraf.</p><p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0125083#t001fn001" target="_blank">^a</a></p

General characteristics of study population (n = 5301).

<p>General characteristics of study population (n = 5301).</p

Difference in scale scores and summary scale scores between children with one of five common childhood conditions/disorders and children without reported chronic condition by General Linear Models when multiple conditions were excluded (n = 5301).

<p>Difference in scale scores and summary scale scores between children with one of five common childhood conditions/disorders and children without reported chronic condition by General Linear Models when multiple conditions were excluded (n = 5301).</p