Health-related quality of life assessment in Serbian schoolchildren hospitalized for malignant disease

Abstract

Background/Aim. Although long-term survival of childhood cancer patients is significantly improved, prolonged treatment and hospitalization might have negative impacts on child development. The aim of this study was to verify profile of health-related quality of life parameters in population of schoolchildren during hospitalization and treatment for malignant disease. Methods. The Serbian version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQLTM4.0) Generic Core Scales was applied. A total of 120 schoolchildren were analyzed: 60 patients hospitalized for prolonged malignant disease treatment and 60 healthy schoolchildren from public schools. The study was done at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, as well as in four schools. Results. Generally, schoolchildren hospitalized for cancer treatment demonstrated lower scores on physical, emotional, social and school functioning when compared to healthy schoolchildren from regular public schools. Significant differences were observed for all the 8 items of the Physical Health Scale, in 2 out of 5 items of the Emotional Functioning Scale, in 4 out of 5 items of the Social Functioning Scale, and 3 out of 5 items of the School Functioning Scale. Conclusions. The Serbian version of PedsQLTM 4.0 Generic Core Scales could be successfully used to evaluate physical, emotional, social and school functioning of hospitalized children and adolescent. Schoolchildren hospitalized for prolonged tumor treatment have poorer HRQOL scores compared to general healthy population, however the level of remaining physical, emotional and social parameters should provide solid foundation for their potential rehabilitation, education and inclusion.Uvod/Cilj. Iako je duzina zivota dece obolele od maligne bolesti znacajno povecana, produzeno lecenje i hospitalizacija mogu imati negativni uticaj na njihov razvoj. Cilj naseg istrazivanja bio je da se utvrdi profil zdravstvenih parametara kvaliteta zivota populacije skolske dece obolele od maligne bolesti tokom njihove hospitalizacije i lecenja. Metode. Primenjena je srpska verzija testa ?Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQLTM4.0) Generic Core Scales?. Testirano je ukupno 120 skolske dece, od toga 60 hospitalizovane radi produzenog lecenja maligne bolesti i 60 zdrave skolske dece iz osnovnih i srednjih skola. Istrazivanje je sprovedeno u Institutu za onkologiju i radiologiju Srbije i u cetiri skole. Rezultati. Generalno, skolska deca hospitalizovana radi lecenja kancera pokazala su slabije rezultate u fizickim, emocionalnim, socijalnim i skolskim parametrima u poredjenju sa zdravom skolskom decom iz redovnih skola. Znacajne razlike uocene su u svih osam parametara na fizickoj skali, u dva od pet parametara na emocionalnoj skali, u cetiri od pet parametara na socijalnoj skali i u tri od pet parametara na skolskoj skali. Zakljucak. Srpska verzija ?PedsQLTM 4.0 Generic Core Scales? testa moze biti uspesno upotrebljena za utvrdjivanje fizickih, emocionalnih, socijalnih i skolskih parametara funkcionisanja hospitalizovane dece i adolescenata. Skolska deca hospitalizovana radi produzenog lecenje maligne bolesti pokazala su losije rezultate pri analizi kvaliteta zivota od zdrave skolske dece. Medjutim, preostali stepen funkcionisanja na fizickom, emocionalnom i socijalnom nivou obezbedjuje solidnu osnovu za njihovu rehabilitaciju, obrazovanje i inkluziju.