Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life Among Children With Special Health Care Needs in the United States.

The objectives of this article were to examine the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between children with and without special health care needs, and identify the risk factors associated with HRQOL in children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Data from the National Survey of Children's Health 2003 were used (N = 66,416). Results showed that the HRQOL summary scores were lower among CSHCN than children without special health care needs. Regression analyses revealed that having multiple (3 or more) special health care needs was the strongest predictor of lower HRQOL. In addition, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, health care access barriers, and poor maternal health were all factors associated with lower HRQOL. Implications for practice and policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]