Relationships between gross motor functions and health-related quality of life of Taiwanese children with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between gross motor functions and physical and psychosocial components of the health-related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Participants comprising 90 children (53 boys, 37 girls; mean age ± SD = 8.2 ± 2.4 yrs) with cerebral palsy were enrolled by a cross-sectional design. Gross motor function measure was used to quantify their gross motor functions. Their health-related quality of life was determined by the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 (traditional Chinese version), completed by their caregivers. RESULTS: A significant moderate positive correlation (r = 0.73, P < 0.01) existed between the physical summary scores of the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 and gross motor function measure, 66 scores in Taiwanese children with cerebral palsy. There was no significant correlation between the psychosocial summary scores of Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 and gross motor function measure, 66 scores in cerebral palsy (r = -0.13, P = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Gross motor functions may be good predictors of the physical component of health-related quality of life, but they are poor predictors of the psychosocial component of health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. In the future, more comprehensive information regarding children's comorbidities may need to be objectively gathered to provide professionals a better understanding of their health-related quality of life.