Quality of Life Assessment of Elementary School Age Children with Special Needs

Introduction. Health related quality of life is often considered to be a general informative health index. Therefore it is essential to involve children in its assessment as early as possible using measurements that are recognized world-wide. In the developed countries the indices of quality of life are used as a basis for the implementation of policies to meet children's needs, which includes not only the needs of individuals, but are also used in the analysis of economic, social, cultural, educational and political aspects of the entire society. The Aim of the Study. To compare self-reports of the quality of life of children with special needs aged 7-10 in Riga with the assessments of their parents and with the European normative data developed by the KIDSCREEN research group. Materials and Methods. The theoretical aspects of the quality of life and the measurement techniques used are analyzed using KIDSCREEN. Information regarding the quality of life of children with special needs obtained by using KIDSCREEN-52 is also analyzed (questionnaires for children and parents were in Latvian). Results. The assessments of the quality of life were analyzed by making comparisons according to the groups, parents and children (boys and girls from a comprehensive school or a specialized school, or who attended a day-care centre/lived at home). In general, self-reports of the children with special needs indicated a higher quality of life than their parents' assessment within the KIDSCREEN dimensions 8-10. Conclusions. Children, aged 7-10 with development disorders living in Riga, scored lower in the assessment of the quality of life in comparison with the European normative data, developed by the KIDSCREEN research group.