QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN EARLY ADOLESCENCE - A 16-DIMENSIONAL HEALTH-RELATED MEASURE (16D)

While data on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults are accumulating, very little is known about the HRQOL-and especially the perceived HRQOL-of children. In our study we introduced a 16-dimensio nal, generic self-assessment measure of HRQOL (16D) for early adolesce nts, and demonstrated its use with four populations of children aged 1 2-15: (1) 239 normal schoolchildren, (2) patients waiting for organ tr ansplantation (n=5), (3) patients with genetic skeletal dysplasias (n= 19), and (4) patients with epilepsy (n=32). The HRQOL profiles of the patients differed significantly according to the diagnosis, giving sup port to its construct validity. The reliability of the measure was hig h: its repeatability coefficient was 91%. The quality of life ratings of the healthy boys and their parents differed aln the dimensions of d istress, vitality, speech, mental function, and discomfort and symptom s (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the h ealth-related valuations between the girls, boys and their parents. We conclude that the assessment of quality of life of adolescents should be based on data collected from the adolescents themselves. Further, the 16D is so far the only generic HRQOL measure designed specifically for this purpose. It is capable of differentiating the HRQOL of healt hy adolescents as well as patients with various diagnoses. Our experie nce also indicates that it is easy to use, yet it seems comprehensive, reliable, and valid.