Lebensqualität chronisch kranker Kinder und Jugendlicher in der Rehabilitation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ravens-Sieberer, U. | Redegeld, M. | Bauer, C.-P. | Mayer, H. | Stachow, R. | Kiosz, D. | van Egmond-Fröhlich, B. | Rempis, R. | Kraft, D. | Bullinger, M.

Affiliations: Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Hamburg | Fachklinik Gaißach, Gaißach | Klinik Hochried, Murnau | Fachklinik Sylt, Westerland/Sylt | Klinik Satteldüne, Amrum | Kinder-Rehaklinik am Nikolausholz, Bad-Kösen | Kurklinik Am Hochwald, Bruchweiler | Seehospiz Norderney, Norderney

Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Prof. Monika Bullinger, Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Haus S 35, 20246 Hamburg: E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents in Inpatient Rehabilitation Introduction: Health related quality of life (QoL) has been discussed as relevant criterion to assess well-being and function in children with chronic health conditions. The aim the study presented was to confirmatorily test the psychometric properties of the revised version of the German KINDL questionnaire and to exploratorily inspect the course of rehabilitation with regard to QoL in three groups of chronically ill children. Methods: Children and adolescents aged 8 to17 years, with the diagnosis of asthma, atopic dermatitis or obesity, admitted to one of seven German inpatient paediatric rehabilitation clinics, as well as their parents were included in this study. They filled in the revised KINDL generic Quality of Life Questionnaire with disease-specific modules (KINDL-R) as well as psychosocial and sociodemographic characteristics prior to, and at the end of inpatient rehabilitation, as well as 3 and 12 months after rehabilitation. Results: In addition to good psychometric properties gender-, age- and diagnosis-specific impairments in QoL were found. Over time children improved, most clearly children with obesity and among those children with the highest degree of obesity. Psychosocial predictors of QoL one year after rehabilitation were identified. Discussion: The study shows that QoL assessment in children with chronic conditions is feasible also in an inpatient setting. The psychometric robustness of the revised KINDL-R questionnaire could be demonstrated and results suggest the likelihood of children to profit from rehabilitation programs. Controlled/randomised study protocols are needed to further assess the QoL benefit in paediatric rehabilitation.

Keywords: Health-related quality of life, KINDL-Questionnaire, children and adolescents, rehabilitation, psychometrics

Journal: Zeitschrift für Medizinische Psychologie, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 5-12, 2005