Physical and Psychosocial Concept Domains Related to Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in 50 Girls and 52 Boys Between 5 and 18 Years Old in Poland Using the Parent-Reported 50-Item Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50)

BACKGROUND: We used the parent-reported 50-item Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) to evaluate parental by-proxy responses regarding 102 healthy Polish children and adolescents, aged 5 to 18 years, in 13 physical and psychosocial concept domains linked to health-related quality of life (HRQL) to determine which domains pose the greatest limitations to health. MATERIAL/METHODS: Participants were 50 healthy female and 52 healthy male school children (nursery, primary, junior-high, and high), selected randomly and found eligible from 585 participants originally recruited; participants with diseases/ailments and incomplete questionnaires were excluded. The CHQ-PF50 has 50 questions divided into 13 domains that represent physical and mental well-being; parents gave their retrospective responses from memory. Scores were expressed numerically using a standard algorithm and ranged from 0 to 100; higher scores represented more favorable HRQL outcomes. Summary statistics were performed, and age and sex effects were assessed. RESULTS: Mean HRQL domain scores never attained 100 (maximum value). They were lowest (P<0.004) for domains of Family Cohesion (66.57), Parental Emotional (77.21), and General Health Perceptions (75.41), while highest (but still significantly <100, P<0.047) in Physical Functioning (97.11), Role/Social Emotional-Behavioral (96.51), and Role/Social-Physical (96.24). Neither age nor sex significantly affected domain scores. Outcomes were comparable to European and US studies but differed from a previous small-scale Polish study. CONCLUSIONS: None of the CHQ-PF50 domain mean values reached the maximum in apparently healthy Polish children. HRQL was lowest in Family Cohesion, Parental Emotional, and General Health Perceptions. Outcomes are considered a useful control baseline in Polish studies on disease.