Background: In cerebral palsy (CP), parents’ quality of life and rearing attitude are considered possible factors that influence patients’ quality of life, function level, and performance in daily activities. Despite these facts, little attention has been given to demonstrate a relation between these factors. Objects: This study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between parents’ quality of life, functional level, and performance in daily activities, the quality of life of school-aged children with spastic CP. Methods: This study included 24 parents of school-aged children with spastic CP. The KIDSCREEN-52 and World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaires (including physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains) were used as research tools to assess the quality-of-life profiles of the children with spastic CP and those of their parents, respectively. In addition, the function levels and performance in daily activities of the children with CP were assessed by using the gross motor function measure (GMFM) and modified Barthel index (MBI). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to clarify the determinants of the quality of life of the children with CP. Results: The KIDSCREEN-52 score correlated with the total score (r=.735, p<.01) and all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (physical: r=.542, p<.01; psychological: r=.690, p<.01; social: r=.568, p<.01; and environmental: r=.783, p<.01). In addition, significant correlation was found between the KIDSCREEN-52 and MBI scores (r=.411, p<.05), and between the MBI and GMFM scores (r=.427, p<.05). After controlling for age, gender, paralytic type, GMFM, and MBI, the WHOQOL-BREF score (R2=.621), particularly in the environmental domain (R2=.699), remained independently related to the quality of life of the children. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the quality of life of school-aged children with spastic CP can be influenced by the quality of life of their parents. This study provides useful information for future studies to investigate the quality of life of children with CP

The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of Korean translation of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-K) in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). The PEDI-K, Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMIFCS) were completed in 104 school-aged children with CP by therapists. The internal consistency of the PEDI-K was calculated by Cronbach's alpha () for assessing reliability. Concurrent validity was evaluated by correlation with the subsets of WeeFIM. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparing GMFCS levels with tests of the PEDI-K. The results showed that internal consistency was good (Cronbach's ranged from .97~.98). Concurrent validity was demonstrated. The correlation with WeeFIM was high in the Functional Skills (self-care, r=.74~.94; mobility, r=.59~.91; social function, r=.65~.93) and in the Caregiver Assistance (self-care, r=.75~.94; mobility, r=.63~.90; social function, r=.78~.96). Discriminant validity was demonstrated on significant decreases in domain scores with increasing GMFCS levels. Reliability and validity have been demonstrated on the PEDI-K. This study extends usage of PEDI-K in clinical activities and research.

목적 : 본 연구는 학령기 뇌성마비 아동의 기능 수준이 부모가 보고하는 뇌성마비 아동의 삶의 질에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 알아보는 것을 목적으로 하였다.연구방법 : 본 연구는 학령기(8~18세) 뇌성마비 환자들 중 강직성 양하지 마비 형태를 보이는 29명을 대상으로 시행되었으며, 삶의 질 평가는 부모에 의해 이루어졌다. 대상자들은 기능 수준에 따라 세 집단(계단 보행 가능 집단, 일반 보행 가능 집단, 그리고 보행 불가능 집단)으로 분류되었다. 삶의 질 평가는 한국어판 KIDSCREEN 52-HRQOL을 사용하여 시행되었다. 결과 : 기능 수준에 따라 삶의 질 영역들 중 ‘신체활동과 건강’, ‘심리적 건강’, 그리고 ‘자유시간’ 영역에서 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났으나(p<.05), 이외의 영역들에서는 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 또한 높은 기능 수준을 보인 집단에서 전체 삶의 질 점수가 더 높은 것으로 나타났다(p<.05).결론 : 본 연구의 결과는 기능 수준이 뇌성마비 아동의 삶의 질에 영향을 미칠 수 있다는 것을 의미한다. 그러나 신체 기능과의 관계가 삶의 질 평가 영역에 따라 다르게 나타났으므로, 본 연구의 결과를 전체적인 것으로 이해하기에는 다소 부족한 면이 있다. 향후 이에 대한 더 많은 연구들이 이어져야 할 것이다.