Purpose: To examine the health-related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and its relationship with their use of health resources, taking into account sociodemographic factors concerning the family context.
Design and methods: Cross-sectional study of children with cerebral palsy in Granada (Spain). Quality of life was evaluated with PedsQL questionnaire.
Results: A total of 75 children were analysed (mean age 7.41 years; SD 4.37; 50.7% male). They made an average of 22.80 visits (SD 12.43) per year; greater use was made of resources by children who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy for <45 months (36.00 vs. 26.93 visits per year, p < 0.0001). Older children suffered more fatigue and pain. Children aged 2-4 years who presented with fatigue had more hospitalizations (r = -0.35; p = 0.20), whereas those >4 years who had a higher quality of life for daily activities had made more visits to hospital A&E (r = 0.35, p = 0.043). Among the children studied, there was no significant association between HRQOL and the parents' education or occupation.
Conclusion: These findings highlight variables that may influence children's quality of life and their use of health resources, identifying certain profiles of children who might need individualized interventions.
Practice implications: These findings could inform services provided by paediatric nurses to children with cerebral palsy, to individualize interventions and improve patient centred care.
Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Child health services; Children; Quality of life; Socioeconomic factors.
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