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

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.