Health-related quality of life of first-year university Students
Authors
Ramiro Molina
Universidad de Chile. Vicerrectoría de
Asuntos Estudiantiles y Comunitarios.
Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Salud Pública
Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología Norte
Rodrigo Sepúlveda
Universidad de Chile. Vicerrectoría de
Asuntos Estudiantiles y Comunitarios.
Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Terapia
Ocupacional y Ciencias de la Ocupación
Rodrigo Carmona
Universidad de Chile. Vicerrectoría de
Asuntos Estudiantiles y Comunitarios
Temístocles Molina
Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Medicina
Reproductiva y Desarrollo Integral de la Adolescencia
Scarlett Mac-Ginty
Universidad de Chile Vicerrectoría de Asuntos Estudiantiles y Comunitarios.
Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Odontología. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Odontológicas.
Objetive: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of first-year university students at the University of Chile in 2015 Material and Method: Observational, transversal, and analytical study of first year students, 17 to 18 years of age, attending 14 Faculties, 2 Institutes, and 1 Bachelor Program of the University of Chile. Delivery of Kidscreen-52 test by email to 3,738 students, of which 1,277 replied (34.16%). The Winsteps program model and Rasch punctuation were used. Results: The dimensions Physical Well-being, State of Mood and Emotions, and Autonomy scored less than 42 Rasch points, and the other two dimensions – Psychological Well-being and Friends and Social Support - had significantly lower scores than those found in Chilean adolescents of a comparable age, in women, in students of lower socio-economical levels in municipal public schools with a Scholar Vulnerability Index, or those with a disability, health problem, or chronic illness. The differences are greater in Faculties with heavier academic demands. Discussion: This first study gives new information in an area seldom studied, which is important for students, academics, and authorities. It is suspected that similar results would be found in other university settings. Conclusions: HRQoL studies are feasible to apply in institutions of higher education, to benefit both students and educators. This study contributes to the diagnosis and evaluation of public policies on student support, and for teaching strategies. In the near future, HRQoL instruments could be applied with other students and other members of the university community, in combination with studies on risk factors.
Molina, R., Sepúlveda, R., Carmona, R., Molina, T., & Mac-Ginty, S. (2017). Health-related quality of life of first-year university Students. Revista Chilena De Salud Pública, 20(2), p. 101–112. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2016.44928
