Pediatric Chronic Illness Research Articles

A pediatric chronic illness transition unit.

A four-bed Chronic Illness Transition Unit (CITU) for the care and developmental support of children who require long-term hospitalization is described. The goal is to discharge patients to the home or the best alternative environment as expeditiously as possible. The layout, staffing, and equipment; the importance of regional coordination; and components that increase viability of such a program and unit are discussed. The costs of construction and the projected costs of service are reviewed. It is hoped that others can use this experience to establish pediatric transition units, thereby improving care, developmental stimulation, family support, and placement of children with severe chronic illnesses.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Childhood Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cystic Fibrosis

The Leyton Obsessional Inventory-Child Version was administered to 33 children with Crohn's disease, 11 with ulcerative colitis, and 46 with cystic fibrosis. Subjects with ulcerative colitis scored significantly higher on total number of obsessional symptoms and degree of resistance to symptoms than subjects with Crohn's disease. Scores of subjects with cystic fibrosis were intermediate between those of the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease groups. However, neither the ulcerative colitis group nor the Crohn's disease group differed significantly from the cystic fibrosis group that were statistically significant. Duration of illness was negatively correlated with symptoms in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The results suggest that obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not specific to Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and that obsessive-compulsive symptoms in pediatric chronic illness may be secondary to the demands of the illness.

Systems treatment in pediatric chronic illness: A parent group program.

Systems treatment in pediatric chronic illness: A parent group program.

Terminal care and survivorship in pediatric chronic illness

Childhood illnesses which were once acutely fatal have slowly yielded to progress in medical science. Some of these illnesses are today chronic life-threatening conditions which pose a new set of psychological challenges. Adaptation to loss and bereavement will still be required of some, but most of the children with these illnesses and their families will be forced to adjust to a new set of psychological realities including a high level of uncertainty. Delineation of the stresses confronting such patients and discussion of appropriate psychological intervention strategies are the heart of this paper. Additional discussion of psychological care during the terminal phase of such illnesses is also included.

Review of The chronically ill child: A guide for parents and professionals and Psychosocial family interventions in chronic pediatric illness.

Review of The chronically ill child: A guide for parents and professionals and Psychosocial family interventions in chronic pediatric illness.

Normal Family Processes; Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness

Normal Family Processes; Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness

Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness

Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness

Review of Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness.

Review of Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness.

Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness.

Psychosocial Family Interventions in Chronic Pediatric Illness.

Psychiatric and social work collaboration in pediatric chronic illness hospital.

Recently pediatric literature has noted that pediatric facilities often function as mental health facilities for their patients. There is little acknowledgment of the role of the pediatric social worker in such care. This paper reviews one year of child psychiatry consultations in a pediatric chronic illness hospital, with particular attention paid to quality of social work, pediatric and psychiatric collaboration. In the study year, 72 psychiatric consultations were requested for medical patients, the majority of which were requested by the social worker assigned to the medical service. Organizational and theoretical issues of the psychiatric consultation-liaison and social work service are discussed as well as disposition of consultations. From the data presented, close collaboration between pediatricians, social workers and child psychiatrists can be efficient, effective and offer a high level of continuity for mental health care of children with chronic illness.

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE AND CHRONIC PEDIATRIC ILLNESS

The role of social workers in a pediatric chronic illness setting is presented. The difference between acute and chronic illness is explored, with emphasis on the ramifications of these differences for social work practice. Early assessment of patients and families provides the social worker with a data base from which to select an appropriate intervention with families. Of primary importance is the amelioration of feelings of helplessness, dependency, and isolation. This may be accomplished by helping families anticipate problems, mobilizing resources to help, and encouraging families to share their experiences with other families. Because the medical system, particularly in a teaching hospital, may not provide continuity of care for patients, the relationship of the social worker to patient and family, and resulting knowledge of the family, becomes an important resource in the provision of high-quality care.