Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects all aspects
of life of pediatric patients, especially the psychological aspect, and
hence the health-related quality of life. The aim of the study was to
evaluate the effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors of pediatric
patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus on self-assessment of health-related
quality of life. Material and Methods. The research was conducted as a
cross-sectional study. The sample included 37 pediatric patients aged 8 to
18 years, who were diagnosed with the type 1 diabetes mellitus six months or
longer before enrollment into the study. The research instruments used in
the study were the Serbian version of child-friendly EuroQol-5D-Y youth
questionnaire and medical history data (gender, age, time since diagnosis -
in years, glycosylated hemoglobin values, type of insulin therapy). Results.
The total score of general health on the visual analogue scale was 80.54 on
average (standard deviation - 20.87). A negative correlation was found
between the total score on the visual analogue scale and the duration of
diabetes (? = -0.329, p < 0.05). The statistical significance of the
difference in the distribution of respondents? responses in relation to the
type of insulin therapy was confirmed in the domain ?Feeling of concern? (?2
(2) = 7.19, p < 0.05). Conclusion. The key determinants that influenced the
self-assessment of the health-related quality of life in pediatric patients
with type 1 diabetes mellitus are duration of the disease and the use of
insulin analogues.
Diabetes Self-Care Activities and Health-Related Quality-of-Life of individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Shantou, China
