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A rights-based approach for service providers to measure the quality of life of children with a disability

journal contribution
posted on 2018-12-01, 00:00 authored by E Davis, D Young, K M Gilson, E Swift, J Chan, L Gibbs, Utsana TonmukayakulUtsana Tonmukayakul, D Reddihough, K Williams
Background: This paper identifies the best instruments for service providers to measure the quality of life (QoL) of children with a disability, with a focus on their alignment with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability (CRPD). Methods: This study reviewed systematic reviews to identify generic QoL instruments for children and adolescents, followed by an appraisal process using newly developed criteria. QoL instruments with a health status, functioning, and condition-specific focus were excluded. Results: Twenty generic QoL instruments for children were identified from existing systematic reviews to undergo further review. Only 2 of the 20 instruments were recommended for service providers to measure the QoL of children with a disability (KIDSCREEN and KINDL). Many pediatric QoL instruments (N = 9) focus on functioning and are not consistent with the CRPD, confounding a child's functioning with their feelings about their life. KIDSCREEN and KINDL have self-report and parent report versions, are applicable for childhood and adolescence, demonstrate adequate reliability and validity, involved children in their development, focus on wellbeing, are likely to be able to be completed by a child with a disability, and are low in cost. Conclusions: Many instruments focus on functioning rather than wellbeing and thus may not capture the QoL of children with a disability. A child's functional limitations may not be consistent with their feelings about life. Two instruments that assess wellbeing and meet the criteria important for service providers now require further testing to explore their usefulness and validity for children with varying abilities.

History

Journal

Value in health

Volume

21

Issue

12

Pagination

1419 - 1427

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ISSN

1098-3015

eISSN

1524-4733

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2018, International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)