Abstract

ABREU, Marlene et al. Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents: bicentric study and comparison to european data. Nascer e Crescer [online]. 2016, vol.25, n.3, pp.141-146. ISSN 0872-0754.

Background: The interest in Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as a global health indicator is recent and it remains little studied in pediatric age. Aim: To evaluate HRQoL in a population of children and adolescents from two primary care Portuguese units. Material and methods: Cross-sectional observational study. HRQoL was assessed using the KIDSCREEN-27^® questionnaire. Participants included children and adolescents aged 8-18 years presenting to a consultation at two primary care services: Centro de Saúde (CS) Sete Rios and Unidade de Saúde Familiar (USF) Infesta, between February 1 and July 1, 2013. Results: A total of 163 individuals answered the questionnaire (CS Sete Rios=85; USF Infesta=78). The median age was 11,59 ± 2,54 years, with a female preponderance (102/62,6%). Compared to the European data, our patients presented significantly higher HRQoL scores in all five dimensions (p<0,001).The HRQoL scores, in all five dimensions, were consistently lower in female gender, but only statistically significant at the physical well-being dimension (p<0,001). The Social Support and Peer Groups wer the poorly scored dimensions by parents (p=0,006). Adolescents considered the School Environment significantly worse than children (p=0,041).The HRQoL score were lower in patients from USF Infesta; however, statistically significant differences were not found. Conclusions: Our population presents a high HRQoL. The results of the comparative analysis underlines some differences, that may be concern of future studies to plan successful health policies and practices.

Keywords : health-related quality of life; KIDSCREEN-27; childhood; adolescence.

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