An Evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a Group of 4-7 Year-old Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

作者：Sagheri Darius^*; Ravens Sieberer Ulrike; Braumann Bert; von Mackensen Sylvia

来源：Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 2009, 70(4): 274-284.

DOI：10.1007/s00056-009-9906-1

• Cleft lip and palate (CLP)
• Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)
• Children
• KINDL
• Questionnaire

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most common congenital craniofacial abnormality. The interventions' intensity and psychosocial burden of the cleft may have a lasting impact on the child. The aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial functioning of 4 to 7-year-old children with non-syndromic CLP.
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) was assessed using the revised German KINDL HRQoL questionnaire, a five-point, 24-Likert-item questionnaire covering six domains (physical well-being, emotional well-being, self-esteem, family life, friends and school). The total score is the sum of all item scores. In addition, a chronic generic module consisting of six items, and a specific parent module consisting of 22 items have been added to the core KINDL questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better HRQoL. All the parents of 4 to 7-year-old children with non-syndromic CLP treated at the interdisciplinary CLP center at Cologne University Hospital were invited to participate in the study.
A total of 74 families were contacted, 61 of whom agreed to study participation (82% response). The 61 children (32 boys and 29 girls) had a mean age of 5.39 years. The mean values for the total scale were slightly lower for children with CLP, but when compared, CLP and non-CLP children revealed no statistically significant difference in HRQoL levels.
This study demonstrated that 4 to 7-year-old children with CLP do not appear to experience major psychosocial problems when compared with their non-CLP peers.

• 出版日期2009-7