Sociodemographic and neighbourhood determinants of health-related quality of life among grade-five students in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of grade-five students in Alberta, Canada, and to assess how this correlates with sociodemographic and neighbourhood characteristics.


METHODS
In 2008, we conducted a comprehensive population-based survey among 3,421 grade-five students aged primarily 10-11 years from 148 schools and their parents that included questions on sociodemographic and neighbourhood factors. The HRQOL of the students was assessed using the EQ-5D Canadian English child version (EQ-5D-Y). We applied multilevel multivariable linear regression to examine the independent importance of sociodemographic and neighbourhood factors for the EQ-5D-Y index and EQ-5D-Y Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score.


RESULTS
In five EQ-5D-Y dimensions, problems with 'walking', 'looking after myself', 'usual activities', 'pain or discomfort' and 'worried, sad or unhappy' were reported by 8.1% (n = 288), 6.5% (n = 215), 11.8% (n = 431), 46.0% (n = 1600), and 37.7% (n = 1292) of students, respectively. Their mean EQ-5D-Y index was 0.86 and mean EQ-5D-Y VAS was 80.4. Children from families reporting higher educational attainment reported higher HRQOL both in terms of a higher EQ-5D-Y index and in terms of a higher EQ-5D-Y VAS. Also, children residing in neighbourhood characterized as providing good satisfaction and facilities reported higher HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health initiatives to improve HRQOL among children are suggested to take into account the influence of different sociodemographic and neighbourhood characteristics such that priority is given to those residing in towns, rural areas and dissatisfying neighbourhoods with poor access to recreational facilities and stores for fresh products.
Wu
X Y
XY
Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada.
Ohinmaa
A
A
Veugelers
P J
PJ
D000416:Alberta; D002648:Child; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students
J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2006 Sep;9(3):137-54
17031019
BMJ. 1998 Mar 7;316(7133):736-41
9529408
Med Care. 2000 Jan;38(1):115-21
10630726
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009 May;64(3):378-89
19307286
Int J Pediatr Obes. 2008;3(3):152-9
19086297
Qual Life Res. 1998 Feb;7(2):155-66
9523497
Med Care. 2005 Mar;43(3):203-20
15725977
Value Health. 2006 Jul-Aug;9(4):262-71
16903996
J Rheumatol. 2008 Apr;35(4):592-602
18278841
Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):468-77
17950654
Int J Public Health. 2009;54(4):241-9
19424661
JAMA. 2005 Jan 5;293(1):70-6
15632338
Health Policy. 1990 Dec;16(3):199-208
10109801
BMC Public Health. 2007 Oct 09;7:285
17925028
Qual Life Res. 2008 Oct;17(8):1049-54
18787979
Am J Public Health. 2006 May;96(5):873-9
16571704
Qual Life Res. 2010 Aug;19(6):887-97
20401552
J Urban Health. 2009 Jul;86(4):551-61
19283489
Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Mar;46(3):714-25
11920407
Health Policy. 1996 Jul;37(1):53-72
10158943
Qual Life Res. 1998 May;7(4):311-22
9610215
Ann Med. 2001 Jul;33(5):337-43
11491192
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;17 Suppl 1:148-56
19132314
Qual Life Res. 2000 Feb;9(1):29-38
10981204
Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Jun;31(6):968-77
17224932
Med Care. 2008 Apr;46(4):432-9
18362824
Epidemiology. 2008 Jul;19(4):590-8
18480733
Qual Life Res. 2009 Nov;18(9):1147-57
19774493
Med Care. 2003 Feb;41(2):218-31
12555050
Med Care. 2005 Mar;43(3):221-8
15725978
Med Care. 2009 Feb;47(2):255-61
19169128
Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2009 Jul;25(3):391-9
19619359
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Feb;60(2):130-5
16415261
Prev Med. 2004 Jan;38(1):39-47
14672640
Qual Life Res. 2008 Apr;17(3):475-83
18274881
Pharmacoeconomics. 2007;25(9):713-26
17803331
Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Feb;29(2):170-5
15583699
Soz Praventivmed. 2005;50(5):281-91
16300172
Qual Life Res. 2010 Aug;19(6):875-86
20405245
Qual Life Res. 2001;10(7):621-35
11822795