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 The current study is aims to compare the quality of life (QoL) of 8-18 year old children with cerebral palsy (CP) in the Southern part of The Netherlands to a sample of European children from the general population and to investigate factors associated with possible differences.

 Research made as a cross-sectional KIDSCREEN-52 (by-proxy version) study with the participation the parents of 80 out of 81 children. Two-sample T-tests were used to compare domain scores between groups.

 Parents reported significantly higher Quality of Life (QoL) for the domains of parent relation & home life and school environment. On the other hand, significantly lower QoL was reported for the domains of psychical well-being, social support & peers, and social acceptance. Factors associated with deviant QoL scores were lower cognitive levels, less communication skills, and higher GMFCS levels.

 As conclusion; this study describes the QoL profile of 80 children with CP living in the Southern part of the Netherlands as measured by means of the by-proxy version of the KIDSCREEN-52. The children studied are reported to have relatively low QoL in the physical well-being, social support & peers, and social acceptance domains, but relatively high QoL in the parent relation & home life and the school environment domains. These findings provide a better understanding of the QoL of Dutch children with CP. They can be used to inform caregivers and service-providers and to focus health programs aiming to increase QoL in this group of children towards identified problem domains.

Link: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cnsnddt/2014/00000014/00000001/art00017