Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012:6:547-53.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S33157. Epub 2012 Jul 25.

Parents' views on growth hormone treatment for their children: psychosocial issues

Nadine van Dongen  1 , Ad A Kaptein
Affiliations

Parents' views on growth hormone treatment for their children: psychosocial issues

Nadine van Dongen et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012.

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the opinions of parents in The Netherlands concerning treatment of their children with growth hormone, and examined beliefs and perceptions about treatment and quality of health care communication and support.

Methods: An Internet survey was completed by 69 parents who had children prescribed growth hormone and were part of the Patient Intelligence Panel. Acceptance of the diagnosis and treatment was investigated with reference to four topics, ie, search and quality of information, involvement in decision-making process, operational aspects, and emotional problems and support.

Results: Among the parents surveyed, 48% reported a lack of freedom to choose the type of growth hormone device that best suited their needs, 92% believed that their children (and they themselves) would benefit if the children self-administered growth hormone, and 65% believed training to support self-administration would be helpful. According to 79%, the availability of support from another parent with experience of treating their own child with growth hormone, alongside their doctor, would be valuable. Thirty-seven percent of the parents indicated that their children felt anxious about administration of growth hormone, and 83% of parents would appreciate psychological support to overcome their anxiety. An increase in reluctance to receive treatment with growth hormone was observed by 40% of parents after the children reached puberty, and 57% of these parents would appreciate psychological support to overcome this reluctance.

Conclusion: Understanding how growth hormone treatments and their implications are perceived by parents is a first step towards addressing quality of growth hormone treatment, which may be instrumental in improving adherence. The data show a need for support and involvement of parents in the process of choosing a growth hormone device. This decision-making process may be instrumental in improving acceptance and diminishing emotional problems for children using growth hormone.

Keywords: adherence; growth hormone; parents; pediatric chronic disease; treatment beliefs.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of devices presented in the hospital at the start of the treatment. Abbreviation: GH, growth hormone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Growth Hormone Deficiency. UK Child Growth Foundation. [Accessed April 12, 2012]. Available from: http://www.childgrowthfoundation.org/ghd.htm.
    1. Child and Growth knowledge center for growth and the development of the child. Jaarverslag, Rotterdam: 2009. [Accessed April 12, 2012]. Kind en Groei, kenniscentrum voor groei en ontwikkeling van het kind. Available from: http://www.kindengroei.nl/site/index.php.
    1. Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Company. KNMP tax. [Accessed April 12, 2012]. Available from: http://www.knmp.nl/
    1. Rubin RR, Peyrot M. Factors affecting use of insulin pens by patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:430–432. - PubMed
    1. Haverkamp F, Gasteyger C. A review of biopsychosocial strategies to prevent and overcome early-recognized poor adherence in growth hormone therapy of children. J Med Econ. 2011;14:448–457. - PubMed