Physical and Psychosocial Concept Domains Related to Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in 50 Girls and 52 Boys Between 5 and 18 Years Old in Poland Using the Parent-Reported 50-Item Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50)

Abstract

BACKGROUND We used the parent-reported 50-item Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) to evaluate parental by-proxy responses regarding 102 healthy Polish children and adolescents, aged 5 to 18 years, in 13 physical and psychosocial concept domains linked to health-related quality of life (HRQL) to determine which domains pose the greatest limitations to health. MATERIAL AND METHODS Participants were 50 healthy female and 52 healthy male school children (nursery, primary, junior-high, and high), selected randomly and found eligible from 585 participants originally recruited; participants with diseases/ailments and incomplete questionnaires were excluded. The CHQ-PF50 has 50 questions divided into 13 domains that represent physical and mental well-being; parents gave their retrospective responses from memory. Scores were expressed numerically using a standard algorithm and ranged from 0 to 100; higher scores represented more favorable HRQL outcomes. Summary statistics were performed, and age and sex effects were assessed. RESULTS Mean HRQL domain scores never attained 100 (maximum value). They were lowest (P<0.004) for domains of Family Cohesion (66.57), Parental Emotional (77.21), and General Health Perceptions (75.41), while highest (but still significantly <100, P<0.047) in Physical Functioning (97.11), Role/Social Emotional-Behavioral (96.51), and Role/Social-Physical (96.24). Neither age nor sex significantly affected domain scores. Outcomes were comparable to European and US studies but differed from a previous small-scale Polish study. CONCLUSIONS None of the CHQ-PF50 domain mean values reached the maximum in apparently healthy Polish children. HRQL was lowest in Family Cohesion, Parental Emotional, and General Health Perceptions. Outcomes are considered a useful control baseline in Polish studies on disease.