[Quality of life and its measurement in children].
BACKGROUND
The concept and definition of quality of life have not been co-ordinated yet, so measurement indicators have not been.
The concept of quality of life is mostly understood as a multidimenstional construct reflecting several domains of life. Quality of life in general includes all factors influencing person's life (economic, political, religious), while health related quality of life includes only factors which influence health. Each domain is measured separately by most authors, which is followed by transformation of every domain into a quantitative value.
Quality of life measurement in children population is associated with numerous difficulties. As for adults, measuring quality of life in children must include measuring health status, so a comprehensive generic instrument must include full spectrum of health status. Beside that, these instruments must be applicable study for children of different gender, age and culture. Those who design a must consider who is the most appropriate respondent (child or parent), what is the optimal mode of administration, whether respondent will understand questions and whether questionnaire length is appropriate.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life is getting a more and more important place in medical investigations. Quality of life measurement in children population is still insufficiently explored and associated with numerous methodological problems. The existing instruments for quality of life measurement in children significantly differ, and their selection must depend on their psychometric characteristics.
Kvrgić
Svetlana
S
Institut za zastitu zdravlja, 21000 Novi Sad, Futoska 121.
Nićiforović-Surković
Olja
O
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires