Parental-perceived health-related quality of life of school students with borderline intellectual functioning: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Background and Objectives: Students with borderline intellectual functioning ( slow learners ) underperform in all school subjects. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the parental-perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these students. Its secondary objective was to analyze the impact of sociodemographic variables on their HRQoL. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional single-arm questionnaire-based study was conducted in the learning disability clinic in a public medical college in Mumbai. Subjects and Methods: One hundred parents of slow learners aged 8 to 16 years were recruited by non-probability sampling. Their HRQoL scores were measured using the English DISABKIDS chronic generic module parent (proxy) long-version ( DCGM-37-P ) instrument. Statistical Analysis: Multiple regression analysis was carried out for determining the independent impact that sociodemographic variables had on a poor facet and total score outcomes. Results: Clinically significant deficits were detected in 4 facets, namely: small deficit in social inclusion ; medium deficits in independence , emotion , and social exclusion ; and large deficit in total score . Multivariate analysis revealed that: (i) being an only child predicted a poor emotion and social exclusion facet score outcomes (P = 0.039 and P = 0.024, respectively); (ii) being a female predicted a poor social inclusion facet score outcome (P = 0.022); and, (iii) studying in a single-gender school predicted a poor limitation facet score outcome (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Parents of slow learners perceive their psychosocial and total HRQoL to be significantly compromised. There is a need to evaluate the HRQoL of slow learners so that optimum rehabilitation can be facilitated.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the perceived health-related quality of life of students with borderline intellectual functioning by their parents, and analyzed the impact of sociodemographic variables on their HRQoL. Clinically significant deficits were found in several facets, with parents perceiving their children's psychosocial and overall HRQoL to be compromised.