title: Health-related quality of life in children with sickle cell disease using the child health questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study sought to determine if changes in parent-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD-SS) occurred after participation in a nutritional supplementation study and to compare HRQOL responses with normative scores from non-White children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children with SCD-SS between the ages of 5 and 13 years completed the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) at baseline and at 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 47 children (8.6 ± 2.4 yrs, 43% female), baseline Child Health Questionnaire scale scores were significantly lower than normative scale scores for parental emotional impact, general health, and overall physical health, but they were higher for mental health. After the nutritional supplementation study, overall physical health and parental emotional impact improved to normative levels. Furthermore, physical role functioning significantly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in a nutritional study had a positive impact on parent-reported HRQOL physical scores in children with SCD-SS. More research is necessary to develop care providers' awareness and adequate HRQOL interventions for this population.
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Wrotniak
authors.forename: Joan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Schall
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brault
authors.forename: Dorene F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Balmer
authors.forename: Virginia A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stallings
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Health-related quality of life; children; sickle cell disease