P218 Faecal calprotectin testing reduces need for paediatric colonoscopy

Abstract

evidenced by lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) especially in children with high levels of abdominal pain. Research examining psychological and social factors related to IBD and associated HRQOL is critical. For children in particular, the family environment might play a crucial role in the their coping with IBD. Dysfunctional levels of overall functioning have been associated with lower HRQOL in chidlren with IBD, yet the impact of specific aspects of family functioning, such as cohesion (i.e., emotional bond or connectiveness), flexibility (i.e., balance between stability and change) and communication patterns (i.e., postive versus negative) is largely unexplored. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of balanced levels of cohesion and flexbility and positive communication on the child’s pain experience and HRQOL. Methods: Thirty children with IBD (14 girls, 16 boys; N = 20 with Crohn’s disease, N = 10 with Ulcerative colitis; Mage = 13.73, SD = 2.30 years) and one parent (25 mothers, 5 fathersMage = 46.73, SD = 6.47 years) completed questionnaires regarding child’s level of pain and interference, HRQOL (i.e., IMPACT) and family functioning (i.e., Faces IV). Results: Linear regression analyses, controlling for child age, indicated that child report of positive communication and balanced level of cohesion and flexibility were positively associated with their HRQOL. Surprisingly, no significant associations were found between child level of pain and family functioning, while the level of interference in daily functioning due to pain was negatively associated with parent report of balanced cohesion and child report of balanced flexibility and positive communication. Conclusions: The current findings indicate that parent-reported cohesion was only associated with pain-related interference, while child-reported aspects of family functioning were related to HRQOL and pain-related interference. Results also suggest that family functioning is primarily associated with HRQOL and interference in daily functioning rather than the level of pain, adding to our understanding of how family functioning relates to children’s coping with IBD and associated pain. In future research, observational assesment of family functioning (e.g., by means of a conflict-discussion task) and parentchild communication patterns when faced with their child in pain (e.g., observation of parent child interaction during an experimental pain task), will contribute to our understanding of how family functioning influences child functioning and pain experiences.