Quality of life in the voice of children who depend on health technologies: Mixed methods study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the quality of life of children who depend on health technologies as expressed in their own words.

Methods: A parallel and convergent mixed methods design was employed with 30 aged five to 12 year old children who depend on health technologies. Data collection was done through a characterization form, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 questionnaire with the total sample in quantitative phase; semi-structured interviews with a subset of nine participants in qualitative phase. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and deductive thematic content analyses, respectively.

Results: Findings from PedsQL 4.0 showed that quality of life for children who depend on health technologies is average. However, data integration through mixed methods showed that this average goes beyond quantitative data through hearing the children's own voices. The results from data integration pointed out that children recognize their limitations and adapt to them; what most affects their quality of life is the emotional domain; children reported suffering prejudice due to their physical limitations; and that the school positively impacts their quality of life.

Conclusions: Data integration highlighted that children acknowledge their limitations and pain generated by these devices. Concerns about the future and the ability to do things that other children the same age can do was the most impactful aspect on their quality of life.

Implications for practice: Nursing care plans should consider that what affects most children who depend on health technologies' quality of life is anxiety for the future of being incapacitated or dependent.

Keywords: Children's health; Chronic disease; Health technology; Pediatric nursing; Quality of life.