Categoría: Living with Diabetes

Health-related quality of life among children aged 8 to 12 years with type 1 diabetes and their parents

Authors: Suarez, Andrea- Vidal, Melina. Facultad de Psicología-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Background: Varni, Limbers and Burwinkle1 developed an investigation in which patients with diabetes and their parents reported a lower Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) compared to healthy groups. In the work developed by Kalyva et al.2, it has been found that parents value a lower perception of health-related quality of life than that perceived by children. The research of Roizen, Figueroa and Salvia3 found the marked differences in the emotional block from the evaluation of the patients and their parents.

Objectives: To know the perception of the quality of life related to the health of children between 8 and 12 years with type 1 diabetes and also the perception that parents have about their children. Associate and correlate HRQOL with Diabetologic Education Cycle, Medical Social Coverage and disease evolution time.

Method: descriptive and analytical, cross-sectional study. The generic Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 instrument was administered through a closed interview. Data were processed using Stata software, version 14.

Results: There are no significant differences for the total scores in the perception of HRQoL between the patients and their parents. However, the marked differences in block analysis are appreciated, since in terms of emotional functioning since parents score less than children. In the school block and in the physical, there were significant differences in which the children scored lower than their parents. Regarding the social block, there were no significant differences. It is observed that there is no association between the variable of assistance to the Diabetic Education Cycle and the perception of HRQoL. There is a strong association between private medical social coverage and a better perception of HRQoL. There is a decrease in the quality of life in children over time.

Discussion: In general, patients and parents evaluated a very similar health-related quality of life. However, the interventions in the emotional field since it is the dimension that more differences present. Also, hay that takes into account factors that deteriorate the quality of life as the lack of private medical coverage and the evolution of disease time.


Bibliography:
1.Varni J.W., Limbers C.A. Y Burwinkle T.M. Alteration of health-related quality of life in chronically ill children and adolescents: a comparative analysis of 10 disease groups and 33 categories / disease severity using the PedsQL ™ 4.0 General Generic Scales. BioMed. 2007; 5 (43).
2. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM): perception of self and parents. Pediatric Diabetes. 2011; (12): 34-40.
3.Roizen M., Figueroa C., and Salvia L. Health-related quality of life in children with chronic diseases: comparison of the vision of children, their parents and their physicians. Argentine archives of pediatrics. 2007; 105 (4): 305-313.