Heather O Dickinson1, Kathryn N Parkinson2, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer3, Giorgio Schirripa4, Ute Thyen5, Catherine Arnaud6, Eva Beckung7, Jérôme Fauconnier8, Vicki McManus9, Susan I Michelsen10, Jackie Parkes11, Allan F Colver12. 1. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. 2. School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. 3. Forschungsgruppe Psychosoziale Gesundheit, Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, Germany. 4. Azienda Sanitaria Locale Viterbo, Viale Trento, Viterbo, Italy. 5. Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany. 6. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Paul Sabatier, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France. 7. Göteborg University, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. 8. Université Joseph Fournier, SIIM-Pole Exploitation, Grenoble, France. 9. Enable Ireland, Lavanagh Centre, Ballintemple, Cork, Ireland. 10. National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. 11. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. 12. Sir James Spence Institute, Newcastle University, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Electronic address: allan.colver@ncl.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the quality of life (QoL) of disabled children. We describe self-reported QoL of children with cerebral palsy, factors that influence it, and how it compares with QoL of the general population. METHODS: 1174 children aged 8-12 years were randomly selected from eight population-based registers of children with cerebral palsy in six European countries and 743 (63%) agreed to participate; one further region recruited 75 children from multiple sources. Researchers visited these 818 children. 318 (39%) with severe intellectual impairment could not self-report; 500 (61%) reported their QoL using KIDSCREEN, an instrument with scores in ten domains, each with SD=10. Multivariable regression was used to relate QoL to impairments, pain, and sociodemographic characteristics. Comparisons were made with QoL data from the general population. FINDINGS: Impairments were not significantly associated with six KIDSCREEN domains. Comparison of least and most able groups showed that severely limited self-mobility was significantly associated with reduced mean score for physical wellbeing (7.6, 95% CI 2.7-12.4); intellectual impairment with reduced mean for moods and emotions (3.7, 1.5-5.9) and autonomy (3.3, 0.9-5.7); and speech difficulties with reduced mean for relationships with parents (4.5, 1.9-7.1). Pain was common and associated with lower QoL on all domains. Impairments and pain explained up to 3% and 7%, respectively, of variation in QoL. Children with cerebral palsy had similar QoL to children in the general population in all domains except schooling, in which evidence was equivocal, and physical wellbeing, in which comparison was not possible. INTERPRETATION: Parents can be reassured that most children aged 8-12 years with cerebral palsy will have similar QoL to other children. This finding should guide social and educational policy to ensure that disabled children participate fully in society. Because of its association with QoL, children's pain should be carefully assessed.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the quality of life (QoL) of disabled children. We describe self-reported QoL of children with cerebral palsy, factors that influence it, and how it compares with QoL of the general population. METHODS: 1174 children aged 8-12 years were randomly selected from eight population-based registers of children with cerebral palsy in six European countries and 743 (63%) agreed to participate; one further region recruited 75 children from multiple sources. Researchers visited these 818 children. 318 (39%) with severe intellectual impairment could not self-report; 500 (61%) reported their QoL using KIDSCREEN, an instrument with scores in ten domains, each with SD=10. Multivariable regression was used to relate QoL to impairments, pain, and sociodemographic characteristics. Comparisons were made with QoL data from the general population. FINDINGS: Impairments were not significantly associated with six KIDSCREEN domains. Comparison of least and most able groups showed that severely limited self-mobility was significantly associated with reduced mean score for physical wellbeing (7.6, 95% CI 2.7-12.4); intellectual impairment with reduced mean for moods and emotions (3.7, 1.5-5.9) and autonomy (3.3, 0.9-5.7); and speech difficulties with reduced mean for relationships with parents (4.5, 1.9-7.1). Pain was common and associated with lower QoL on all domains. Impairments and pain explained up to 3% and 7%, respectively, of variation in QoL. Children with cerebral palsy had similar QoL to children in the general population in all domains except schooling, in which evidence was equivocal, and physical wellbeing, in which comparison was not possible. INTERPRETATION: Parents can be reassured that most children aged 8-12 years with cerebral palsy will have similar QoL to other children. This finding should guide social and educational policy to ensure that disabled children participate fully in society. Because of its association with QoL, children's pain should be carefully assessed.
Authors: Neuza Silva; Marco Pereira; Christiane Otto; Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer; Maria Cristina Canavarro; Monika Bullinger Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2019-05-04 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Francesco Camara Blumetti; Jenny Chia Ning Wu; Karen Vanessa Bau; Brian Martin; Sally Anne Hobson; Matthias Wolfgang Axt; Paulo Selber Journal: J Child Orthop Date: 2012-11-20 Impact factor: 1.548
Authors: Jérôme Fauconnier; Heather O Dickinson; Eva Beckung; Marco Marcelli; Vicki McManus; Susan I Michelsen; Jackie Parkes; Kathryn N Parkinson; Ute Thyen; Catherine Arnaud; Allan Colver Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-04-24