Impact of cerebral palsy on the quality of life in patients and their families

Measuring QOL is a field that is gaining interest among researchers worldwide. This is a prospective, descriptive study that aimed to look at the impact of health-related quality of life (HRQL) of cerebral palsy in the lives of patients and their families. Methods: Patients attending the Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic at University of Malaya Medical Centre were interviewed prospectively using the Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire - Cerebral Palsy. Results: A total of 27 patients were interviewed. Three (11.1%) patients reported severely affected quality of life. Seven (25.9%) patients reported moderately affected quality of life and 10 (37%) reported mildly affected quality of life. The worst score of 76 were reported in 2 patients. The best score of 11 was reported in one patient. Conclusion: The impairment and disability due to cerebral palsy is likely to be similar in both developing and developed countries. However, the quality and type of care received by patients are likely to determine the resultant handicap and the implication on the quality of life