title: Self-reported health status and quality of life in youth with cerebral palsy and typically developing youth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe self-reported health status and quality of life (QOL) of ambulatory youths with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with sex- and age-matched typically developing youth (TDY).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional cohort comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 81 youth with CP (age range, 10-13 y) with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I through III and 30 TDY participated. They were recruited from 2 regional children's hospitals and 1 regional military medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form (CHQ-CF87) for health status and the Youth Quality of Life for QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth with CP reported significantly lower health status than age- and sex-matched TDY in the following CHQ-CF87 subscales: role/social behavioral physical, bodily pain, physical function, and general health (CP mean rank, 46.8-55.2; TDY mean rank, 62.2-80.9). There were significant differences across GMFCS levels. There were no significant differences in self-reported QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported health status, but not QOL, appears sensitive to the functional health issues experienced by ambulatory youth with CP. Pain management and psychosocial support may be indicated for them.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. kristie.bjornson@seattlechildrens.org
authors.forename: Kristie F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bjornson
authors.forename: Basia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belza
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kartin
authors.forename: Rebecca G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Logsdon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires