Changes in quality of life in adolescents as an indicator of treatment efficiency

Abstract

Aim. The research is targeted for estimating quality of life in adolescents with different types of tuberculosis. Methods. Quality of life in 30 adolescents aged 13-17 years was evaluated using Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - PedsQL questionnaire. Parents were evaluated separately. An initial level of a quality of life before the treatment initiation and quality of life right after in-patient treatment completion (56 days) were compared. Results. Adolescents had pessimistic and emotionally limited subjective estimations of their clinical condition and its influences on all types of activities. The change in Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores (49.4±2.1 before treatment, compared to 51.9±2.0 after treatment) confirmed that recreation and treatment of tuberculosis significantly raised the subjective scores for all aspects of patient’s quality of life. Quality of life indicators by different functional scales were higher if assessed by parents compared to patients themselves (p 0.001). Parents were sure in positive influence of the prolonged course of the specific treatment on «school life» scale parameters. Comparative assessment of quality of life trend showed that improvement after treatment was observed according to assessment both by parents and patients themselves. All quality of life indicators were higher in female patients (score of all types of activities - 55.7±2.7 points) compared to males (48.3±2.8 points). Conclusion. Revealed trends confirm the need for performing recreational, medical, social, rehabilitative actions and psychosocial correction considering the age features of adolescents, their subjective estimations and functioning in a hospital.