Health Related Quality of Life among Jordanian Children with Renal Diseases

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is a widespread evaluation of person’s wellbeing.
QOL encompasses various areas including physical, emotional functions, social interactions,
school performance and environmental values. Measuring Health-related Quality of Life
(HRQOL) of healthy children, as well as sick children suffering from diseases such as cancer,
asthma, and renal disorders, is considered a valuable indicator of child’s well-being and
functioning. It could be used to evaluate the impact of the disease as well as the effects of the
treatment strategies.
Aims: This study aimed at measuring the health-related quality of life among children
with renal disease and to determine factors affecting their QOL.
Methods: a cross sectional design was used. A convenient sample of 121 children
accompanied by their care givers was interviewed during years 2017-2018. These children were
diagnosed with renal diseases and treated in the pediatric nephrology clinic at Prince Hamza
Hospital/ Hashemite Kingdome of Jordan. Two instruments were used for data collection:
Questionnaire for patients with renal diseases including socio demographic data, parents’
characteristics and Peds QL4.0 Generic Core Scale was used to measure HRQOL.
Results: Children's age ranged from 2-13 years old with 43.8% of them between 6-10
years. 80.2% of the them came from low Socio-economic class. The majority of parents'
education levels were secondary education or less (fathers 81.0%, mothers 82.6%). Children’s
mean total HRQOL score was 71.85± 14.80. Mean of social, physical, psychosocial QOL items
were above 70, while emotional and school functioning were less than 70. Low socioeconomic
class children showed low score in all HRQOL aspects, while children with highly educated
parents had high HRQOL scores.
Conclusions and recommendations: Renal diseases have substantial consequences in
numerous areas of children’s life. This study recommends an integrated program between home,
school and health care facilities to educate, support and improve children’s HRQOL. In addition
to use the HRQOL scale as a part of the clinical assessment in all health care institution.