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Assessment of quality of life in school-aged children: a method--phase I
Insights
This study identifies key quality of life indicators for healthy school-aged children. These findings will help healthcare professionals understand and address challenges faced by chronically ill children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Psychology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Assessing Quality of Life (QOL) in chronically ill children is crucial for effective healthcare.
- Previous research has not adequately captured QOL indicators specific to school-aged children's perspectives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically derive Quality of Life (QOL) indicators relevant to school-aged children.
- To lay the groundwork for an instrument to assess QOL in chronically ill children.
Main Methods:
- Convenience sample of 96 well children (ages 7-12).
- Data collection via demographic profiles, Three Wishes Projective Question, semi-structured interviews, and the What Worries You Most Questionnaire.
- Inductive thematic analysis of interview data to derive a category system.
Main Results:
- Identification of key themes related to physical, psychosocial, and social development from children's perspectives.
- Development of a category system to form the basis for QOL indicators.
- Established a foundation for a psychometrically tested instrument.
Conclusions:
- The derived QOL indicators provide a child-centered foundation for assessing well-being.
- This research is the first phase in developing a tool to evaluate QOL in chronically ill children.
- Findings will inform healthcare professionals in mitigating adverse effects of chronic illness and treatment.
Abstract:
This is part one of a programme of research directed toward the assessment of the Quality of Life (QOL) in chronically ill school-aged children. Phase I empirically derived QOL indicators of specific value to school-aged children. The ultimate purpose is to help health care professionals reduce or eliminate adverse consequences of chronic illnesses and their treatment in school-aged children through systematic identification and evaluation of these consequences as perceived by children. A convenience sample of 96 well children, aged 7 through 12 years, were interviewed to identify QOL indicators. Data collected included: demographic profiles of the child and parents; three wishes projective question (obtains data about the child's fantasies and wishes); semi-structured interviews (obtains information regarding the physical, psychosocial, and social development while focusing on the child's activities, family life, and home environment); and What Worries You (Your Child) the Most Questionnaire (lists 30 anxiety-provoking childhood experiences). Descriptive and nonparametric statistics will be used to describe the sample and compare the child and parent's responses, respectively. Data from the interviews will be analyzed to identify common themes. A category system was inductively derived to from the themes. The specific QOL indicators will be derived from the categories to provide a foundation for an instrument to psychometrically tested. This instrument will then be modified for use with children with chronic illness.
