IMPACT OF HYDROTHERAPY CARE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN
Author(s)
Taïeb C1, Nocera T2, Martincic MA2, Verriere F2, Myon E1, 1Pierre Fabre SA, Boulogne Billancourt, France; 2Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Lavaur, France
OBJECTIVES: Quality of life enables patients to assess the different consequences of the disease and/or treatment. Skin disorders have a strong impact on the patient's physical and psychological well-being and the numerous quality of life studies carried out among adults are here to confirm this. However, very few studies have been performed to assess the quality of life in children. This is mainly attributable to the fact that there is a lack of questionnaires to do this. METHOD: A specific scale developed by Professor A. FINLAY (C-DLQI - Children- Dermatology Life Quality Index) is completed by each child before starting the course of treatment at Avène Hydrotherapy Center, after three weeks of treatment, after three months and after 6 months. RESULTS: Every year, Avène Hydrotherapy Center welcomes a growing number of children suffering from chronic dermatosis. It thus seemed relevant to assess the quality of life of these children (4-15 years old) The following initial analysis has been obtained from the 30 first questionnaires completed upon inclusion and after 3 months. The DLQI score upon inclusion was 23.58 and 11.60 after 3 months. The results show an improvement in the patient's quality of life 3 months after the hydrotherapy course of treatment. This difference is statistically significant (p=0.010). After 3 weeks of treatment, the C-DLQI score was 20.3 (p=20.32) CONCLUSION: These results clearly show that even some time after the end of the hydrotherapy course of treatment, quality of life in children suffering from chronic dermatosis continues to be improved.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2003-05, ISPOR 2003, Arlington, VA, USA
Value in Health, Vol. 6, No. 3 (May/June 2003)
Code
PES14
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Sensory System Disorders