EN
TÜRKÇE
Poster - 36
Importance of Health-Related Quality of Life in Psychological Support during Transition of Children with Oesophageal Atresia to Adult Care
L Duvnjak*, I Sabolić**, D Šoša Škrljak**, M Pasini**, M Stilinović***
*University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Pediatrics, Zagreb, Croatia
**University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Unit of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
***National Association for Congenital Anomalies
Aim of the Study: Transition period to adult care is challenging, therefore psychological support is necessary for both patients born with oesophageal atresia (OA) and their parents.
Aim of study is to determine features of psychological support during management of OA patients during transition period according to the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Methods: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scale was applied to assess HRQoL by patient self-reports (SR) and proxy-parent reports (PR) and compared with healthy controls. OA patients aged 11-17 years and the same number of healthy controls were included in the study.
Main Results: Twenty-one OA patients with parents and 21 healthy counterparts participated in the study. OA patients had significantly higher scores for psychosocial functioning than healthy controls (mean: 88 vs. 79 respectively, p=0.007). PR of EA patients had significantly lower quality in physical functioning than PR of healthy controls (mean:74 vs. 91 respectively, p=0.018). In the group of OA patients significant difference was found in psychosocial functioning between SR and PR (mean: 88 vs. 80 respectively, p=0.047).
Conclusions: OA patients perceive better psychosocial functioning for themselves in the transition period than their parents and healthy controls. It is imperative to take into consideration perception of OA patients’ HRQoL throughout the transition period, whereas parents need support and counselling to understand and take into account the child’s level of perception of HRQoL for optimal medical management.