title: Quality of life in children with end-stage renal disease based on a PedsQL ESRD module.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an essential subject for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their families.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional investigation of HRQOL in children undergoing renal replacement therapies, such as dialysis and renal transplantation, using the 34-item Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 End-Stage Renal Disease (PedsQL 3.0 ESRD) module. We assessed 92 ESRD patients aged 2-18 from four Korean university hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male:female ratio was 44:48, and the most common cause of ESRD was chronic glomerulonephritis. Fifty-five children were treated by dialysis, and 37 received renal transplantation. Transplant patients had better HRQOL than dialysis patients in two domains in parent proxy reports: "About my kidney disease" and "Worry." In child self-reports, transplant patients had better HRQOL than dialysis patients in one domain: Treatment problems. However, there were no significant differences in total QOL scores between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and transplant patients in child self-reports. In addition, there were differences in the ESRD module scores between child self- and parent proxy reports. Children usually reported better QOL than their parents. Child self-reports showed significantly higher QOL scores than parent proxy reports in the domains of General fatigue, Family & peer interaction, and Worry. Children on PD self-reported a significantly higher QOL than children on hemodialysis (HD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PedsQL 3.0 ESRD module may be useful as an ESRD-specific instrument to evaluate HRQOL in children; however, a larger, longitudinal prospective study is warranted.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ki-Soo
authors: KS
authors: Park
authors: Young Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Hwang
authors: Min Hyun
authors: MH
authors: Cho
authors: Cheol Woo
authors: CW
authors: Ko
authors: Il Soo
authors: IS
authors: Ha
authors: Hee Gyung
authors: HG
authors: Kang
authors: Hae Il
authors: HI
authors: Cheong
authors: Young Seo
authors: YS
authors: Park
authors: Yoon Jung
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: Joo Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Hee Yeon
authors: HY
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires