[Quality of life assessment and children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health Outcomes Research
• Clinical Measurement
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment has seen increased attention over the past decade.
• Despite this, the application of HRQoL measures in pediatric clinical settings and trials remains restricted.
• Available Danish-language HRQoL instruments are validated and reliable for both general and disease-specific use, with self-reports feasible from age five.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the potential benefits of routine HRQoL measure implementation in pediatric clinics.
• To emphasize the need for establishing Danish pediatric HRQoL norms.
• To advocate for the combined use of generic and disease-specific HRQoL instruments.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures in Danish.
• Assessment of the feasibility of self-reporting for young children (from age five).
• Discussion of potential impacts on clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Validated generic and disease-specific pediatric HRQoL measures exist in Danish.
• Self-reported HRQoL data can be collected from children as young as five years old.
• Routine use of HRQoL measures may improve patient-physician communication, patient/parent satisfaction, and clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Routine implementation of pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures in clinics is recommended.
• A combination of generic and disease-specific instruments should be utilized.
• Establishing normative data for pediatric HRQoL in Denmark is essential for accurate interpretation and application.