Learning Objective #1: Understand that children with very low birthweight had lower health-related quality of life at age 3

Learning Objective #2: Describe factors associated with quality of life among children with very low birthweight at age 3

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Advances in modern medicine significantly increase survival of infants with very low birthweight (<=1500 grams), but their quality of life remained a concern. The objectives of this study were to compare health-related quality of life among children with very low birthweight to children without very low birthweight at 3 years of age and to examine factors associated with quality of life among children with very low birthweight. Two groups of children, very low birthweight group (n=118) and none-very low birthweight group (n=170), were recruited in Northern Taiwan. Primary caregivers of the included children filled out a structured questionnaire. Children's health-related quality of life was measured by the Mandarin version of the TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life (TAPQOL). The TAPQOL included 12 subscales: sleeping, appetite, lung problems, stomach problems, skin problems, motor functioning; problem behavior, social functioning, communication, positive mood, anxiety, and liveliness. Higher scores indicated better quality of life. The mean differences in TAPQOL scores were determined by t-test. Factors associated with quality of life were examined by multi-variable linear regression. The very low birthweight group had significantly lower mean TAPQOL scores in 8 out of the 12 subscales. The four subscales that were not significantly different between the two groups of children were stomach, skin, sleep, and problem behavior. Regression model showed that factors associated with quality of life among children with very low birthweight were primary caregivers' educational level, the child's age, birth gestational age, and the child's current health problem. The model r square was 0.33. Health care providers should monitor quality of life among children with very low birthweight. The child's family background and current health problem need to be assessed in order to identify problems in quality of life and intervene early.