Assessment of Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Objectives. The aim of the work was an objective assessment of the quality of life of parents of children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and of its determinant factors. Materials and Methods. The survey answers of 25 parents were analyzed and contained demographic parameters, socioeconomic status information, quality of life of responses and type of support they have been receiving. In order to assess the effects of this children's disease on the quality of life of the parents, families were divided into two groups depending on the OI severity: group M - mild (type I and IV OI), group S-severe (type III and OI). The objective of the work was carried out based on the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire and measure of family status: education degree based on the International Standard Classification of education (ISCED), a subjective assessment of the family's wealth (Perceived Family Wealth, PFW), and the family's financial resources (Family Affluence Scale, FAS). Results. 56% of respondents assessed their global quality of life (Quality of Life, QL) as good, whereas 8% answered poor. Perception of general health status was similar. Life domains assessed in the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire received the following mean values on a scale from 4 to 20 points: physical - 12.2 +/- 1.2, psychological - 15.04 +/- 2.2, environmental -13.32 +/- 2, social relationships -14.28 +/- 1.5 In the severe OI group, the environmental domain was assessed as worse than in the mild OI group and this assessment was statistically significant, despite Indicators of socioeconomic status did not affect the respondent's assessment of their global quality of life. Conclusions. In the tested group of families, the child's disease did not affect either the global quality of life assessment or health of the respondents or their quality of life in terms of physical and mental status and social relationships. The parents of children with severe OI assessed the life domain associated with the environment they live in as worse than the parents of children with mild OI. The global quality of lie assessment of the respondents did not depend on the family's socioeconomic status and on the help they have been receiving with regard to care for the child (Adv Clin Exp Med 2012, 21, 1, 99-104).