HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE ACCORDING TO CHARACTERISTICS OF GENDER AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY OF FIRST YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Presentation of the analysis of some of the results of a study carried out by the Vice-rectorship of Student Affairs of the University of Chile to characterize the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in first-year students. Objective: To characterize the first-year student population at the University of Chile in relation to HRQOL, through the application of the Kidscreen-52 Test, analyzing variables of gender and school vulnerability. Method: Observational, transversal and analytical study in students from 17 to 18 years of age. The KS52 test, sent by email, was applied in 2015, 2016. 1,277 (34.16%) students answered the survey in 2015 and 1052 (26.59%) in 2016. Analysis with WINSTEPS program and expression with Rasch scores. Results: The critical dimensions are Physical Wellbeing, Mood and Emotions and Autonomy. The lowest scores occur in female students and those with the highest vulnerability Conclusions: The study generated a characterization of university students based on the results of a psychometric test, integrating dimensions that are not usually considered in university policies and that could guide actions to improve the quality of life and health of students.