Health-related quality of life among children with cancer in Hyderabad, India.

OBJECTIVE

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) experienced by children with cancer is more important than ever before as survival rates are increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the HRQL of children with cancer in a developing country, using physician proxy assessments.

METHODS

The Health Utilities Index (HUI) was chosen as the measurement tool and physicians' assessments were obtained using an HUI proxy-respondent interview-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients and their physicians (n=6) were recruited from 2 hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, India. Most of the children had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. There were no differences in patterns observed between cancer types for the child's HRQL, but there was wide variation in the total HRQL scores among the children. This variation was more evident in certain aspects of children's life such as emotion and pain.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that HRQL as determined by physician proxy assessments in children with cancer in India is compromised, matching results in similar populations elsewhere.