Parental-perceived health-related quality of life of school students with borderline intellectual functioning: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Students with borderline intellectual functioning ('slow learners') underperform in all school subjects. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the parental-perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these students. Its secondary objective was to analyze the impact of sociodemographic variables on their HRQoL. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional single-arm questionnaire-based study was conducted in the learning disability clinic in a public medical college in Mumbai. Subjects and Methods: One hundred parents of slow learners aged 8 to 16 years were recruited by non-probability sampling. Their HRQoL scores were measured using the English DISABKIDS chronic generic module parent (proxy) long-version ('DCGM-37-P') instrument. Statistical Analysis: Multiple regression analysis was carried out for determining the 'independent' impact that sociodemographic variables had on a poor facet and total score outcomes. Results: Clinically significant deficits were detected in 4 facets, namely: small deficit in 'social inclusion'; medium deficits in 'independence', 'emotion', and 'social exclusion'; and large deficit in 'total score'. Multivariate analysis revealed that: (i) being an only child predicted a poor 'emotion' and 'social exclusion' facet score outcomes (P = 0.039 and P = 0.024, respectively); (ii) being a female predicted a poor 'social inclusion' facet score outcome (P = 0.022); and, (iii) studying in a single-gender school predicted a poor 'limitation' facet score outcome (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Parents of slow learners perceive their psychosocial and total HRQoL to be significantly compromised. There is a need to evaluate the HRQoL of slow learners so that optimum rehabilitation can be facilitated.