Primary care supports for children with chronic health conditions: identifying and predicting unmet family needs

Abstract

Objective: To examine unmet needs among families of children with chronic health conditions treated in primary care settings and to identify predictors of these needs.

Method: Primary care physicians referred 83 caregivers of children with chronic health conditions. Mothers completed the Family Needs Survey, as well as other measures of child and family functioning.

Results: Mothers reported a high prevalence and broad range of unmet family needs. The most frequent area of need was for information about services and ways to promote child health and development. Predictors of total number of family needs included demographic characteristics, ratings of social support, and appraisals of family burden. Predictors of specific types of family needs varied according to category of need.

Conclusions: Innovative psychosocial intervention programs are needed in primary care settings to reduce family needs and promote child health. More intensive family supports may be indicated for those with minority-group or low socioeconomic status, limited social support, or high perceived burden.