The impact of an inpatient family-oriented rehabilitation program on parent-reported psychological symptoms of chronically ill children

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the change of psychological symptoms and quality of life in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, cancer, or cystic fibrosis after a family-oriented inpatient rehabilitation program.

Methods: 302 participants in the intervention (aged 4-17 years, mean=8.7) were assessed using standard questionnaires at admission to the rehabilitation program, at discharge, and 6 months post discharge. Parent-reported behavioral and emotional symptoms were compared to a healthy control group from the National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (n=903).

Results: At admission, 27.5% of patients showed abnormal levels on the total difficulties score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - parent version (SDQ), while an additional 16.9% had slightly elevated symptoms (relative risk=2.16). Patients' psychological symptoms were negatively correlated with their quality of life (QoL) and with parental QoL. After rehabilitation, the patients' symptoms improved significantly, and the improvement persisted for 6 months in those patients who could be followed.

Conclusions: The rehabilitation program can be considered a promising strategy to improve the patients' psychological adaptation.