Levels Of Family Satisfaction Research Articles

Analysis of Perioperative Respiratory Care Methods and their Application Value in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Objective: To analyze the perioperative respiratory care methods and application value in children with congenital heart disease. Methods: 60 children with congenital heart disease (treated from January 2021 to October 2023) were screened and divided into two groups randomly. Each group consisted of 30 cases. The perioperative routine was used in the control group. The observation group underwent the perioperative routine along with better respiratory care. Oxygenation indicators, surgical complications, and family satisfaction levels of the groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in the oxygenation index between the two groups of children at admission (P > 0.05). At discharge, the oxygenation indicators in the observation group were better than those of the control group, and the incidence of surgical complications was lower than that of the control group. The total satisfaction of family members in the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: During the perioperative period for children with congenital heart disease, the implementation of respiratory care, which mainly involves symptomatic care, catheter care, sputum suction care, etc., can actively improve the oxygenation indicators, reduce surgical complications, and promote faster and better recovery, of children with congenital heart disease.

Assessment of Satisfaction Levels Among Families of Intensive Care Unit Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Regularly measuring family satisfaction with intensive care unit (ICU) experience is crucial for ensuring high-quality care and identifying areas for improvement. This study aimed to evaluate family satisfaction with the ICU in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 248 family members of patients admitted to various ICUs. The survey assessed family satisfaction via a validated questionnaire, the Critical Care Family Satisfaction Survey (CCFSS), which includes five subscales: assurance, information, comfort, proximity, and support. Demographic data were also collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Results: The demographic distribution revealed that a majority of the participants were female (70.97%, n = 176), with the relationships with the patients predominantly being parents (41.94%, n = 104) or offspring (33.87%, n = 84). The overall satisfaction score was 3.79 ± 1.26, with 66.13% of the participants reporting high satisfaction, 20.97% reporting intermediate satisfaction, and 12.90% reporting low satisfaction. The mean subscale scores were as follows: assurance (3.82 ± 1.2), information (3.83 ± 1.25), comfort (3.81 ± 1.27), proximity (3.72 ± 1.28), and support (3.78 ± 1.28). The highest satisfaction scores were observed for sharing in decisions, noise levels, and staff honesty, whereas the lowest scores were for visiting hours flexibility, transfer preparation, and staff responsiveness. Males reported significantly greater satisfaction (4.24 ± 1.20) than females did (3.61 ± 1.11, p = 0.007). Conclusions: This study revealed moderate to high levels of family satisfaction with the ICU, with significant differences based on sex. The findings highlight the importance of effective communication, family involvement in decision-making, and supportive ICU policies. ICUs should regularly assess family satisfaction and use the results to guide quality improvement efforts, with a focus on areas with lower satisfaction scores.

Socioeconomic characteristics and domestic work as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children

BackgroundFamily life satisfaction is an important contributor to the mental health of mothers with young children, who are particularly vulnerable to various sources of stressors. However, there is a dearth of studies on this topic in this demographic, the determinants of which likely differ across geographical and cultural contexts. We examined indicators of maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and domestic help as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children.MethodsMothers (N = 322) of young children (3–5 years old) were recruited from neighbourhoods stratified by SES and population density. They self-completed a survey containing items on socio-demographics, SES characteristics (including household income and maternal education and employment status), maternal family satisfaction and division of domestic work in the household and family. Confounder-adjusted associations of maternal SES indicators and participation in housework and childcare activities by various agents (e.g., mother, spouse, other residents) were estimated. We also estimated the moderating effects of household income on the associations between maternal employment and family satisfaction, and those of maternal employment on the associations between domestic work division and family satisfaction.ResultsHousehold income and maternal education were positively related to maternal family satisfaction. Mothers in part-time employment had lower family satisfaction than non-working mothers and mothers working full-time. The latter reported higher family satisfaction than non-working mothers only if their household income was below HK$ 15,000. Domestic work performed by non-residents was predictive of higher family satisfaction, while mothers’ housework and child(ren) tutoring were predictive of lower family satisfaction. Only part-time employed mothers benefited from spouse’s assistance with domestic work. The interaction effects of maternal employment status on the associations between the division of child tutoring and family satisfaction were complex.ConclusionsIn Hong Kong, mothers of young children with lower education and household income, who hold a part-time job and participate in housework and child tutoring activities have the lowest levels of family satisfaction and, hence, are at higher risk of mental health problems. Spouses’ and non-resident family members’ participation in domestic work, as well as the establishment of more family-friendly employment practices, may help mitigate this risk.Trial registrationN/A.

Spillover of Workplace Incivility on Family Satisfaction of Nurses: Role of Work-to-Family Conflict and Family Support

This study aims to examine the association between workplace incivility and family satisfaction through the mediating variable of work-family conflict. Family support is used as the moderating variable in the association between workplace incivility and work-family conflict. Data were collected from 420 staff nurses working in the public sector hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. PLS-SEM was used to test the proposed relationships. Employees who have experienced workplace incivility reported lower levels of family satisfaction through the mediating variable work-to family conflict. Family support moderates the relationship between workplace incivility and work-family conflict in such a way that with the increase in family support, the positive association is weakened. This study contributes to the current knowledge and literature with a more comprehensive picture of the work stressors that lead to non-work negative outcomes in the family domain of employees.

Prevalence and associated factors of client satisfaction with family planning service among family planning users in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundConsidering the importance of client satisfaction in the quality of family planning services, a regular evaluation should be carried out. Several studies have been conducted in Ethiopia, but so far there were no pooled estimates of the prevalence of customer satisfaction with family planning services in the country. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was intended to estimate the pooled prevalence of client satisfaction with Ethiopian family planning services in Ethiopia. The findings of the review can be used to develop strategies and draft policies in the country.Methods and materialsThis review included articles published only in Ethiopia. The main databases were Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Ethiopian University Repository Online, and Cochrane Library. Cross-sectional studies conducted in English and meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the review. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Data extraction and analysis were performed using Microsoft Excel and STATA version 14 software, respectively.ResultThe pooled prevalence of customer satisfaction with family planning services in Ethiopia was 56.78% [(95% CI (49.99, 63.56); I2 = 96.2%, p < 0.001]. Waiting time > 30 min [OR = 0.2, 95% CI (0.1–0.29), I2 = 75.0%, p < 0.001], privacy maintained [OR = 5.46, 95% CI (1.43–20.9), I2 = 95.8%, p < 0.001], education status [OR = 0.47], 95% CI (0.22–0.98), I2 = 87.4%, p < 0.001] was significant in client satisfaction related to family planning services.ConclusionAccording to this review, client satisfaction with family planning services in Ethiopia was 56.78%. In addition, waiting time, women's educational level, and respect for privacy were identified as factors that both positively and negatively impact women's satisfaction with family planning services. Decisive action, such as educational intervention, continued monitoring and evaluation of family planning services, and arranging training for providers, is required to address identified issues and ensure higher levels of family satisfaction and utilization. This finding is important for shaping strategic policies and improving the quality of family planning services. This finding is important for designing strategic policy and increasing the quality of family planning services.

The Occurrence and Co-Occurrence of Harsh Parenting and Family Conflict in Hong Kong

The violation of children's right to a safe home environment is a major public health problem in need of serious attention. Evidence has been limited about the family characteristics that go with the co-occurrence of harsh parenting and family conflict. By using a representative community sample of Hong Kong families, this study aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of harsh parenting and family conflict. This study was conducted using a secondary analysis obtained from the 2017 Hong Kong Family Survey with a sample size of 1926 respondents who have children. Results showed that participants' ages are negatively related to the occurrence and co-occurrence of harsh parenting and/or family conflict. Married mothers reported less family conflict. Fathers with lower education levels reported more experiences of family violence. Mothers reporting a higher level of family satisfaction were less associated with harsh parenting. This study provides insights into the unique and shared familial elements that prevent harsh parenting and family conflict and help facilitate the development of effective intervention strategies for family violence co-occurrence. Family-based prevention for family violence may screen for the presence of harsh parenting and family conflict and take into consideration these signals to better support families in need.

The influence of family functioning on the severity of fear of cancer recurrence: A cross-sectional study in a sample of breast cancer survivors of Lebanese women.

To explore the links between family functioning-in terms of cohesion, flexibility, and communication-and the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in a sample of breast cancer survivors of Lebanese women. This was a cross-sectional study among 62 Lebanese adult women (mean age: 51.0±8.29 years; years since diagnosis: 7.19±7.06) in remission, included via convenience and snowball sampling. A multicomponent questionnaire, encompassing socio-demographic and medical questions, the "Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale," the "Family communication scale," and the "Family satisfaction scale" (FACES IV) and the short version of the "Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory" (FCRI-SF), was used. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. A p-value<0.01 was used to indicate statistical significance. On average, FCR was clinically non-significant (12.31±7.76). The sample had a low disengagement (20.01±4.83), very low enmeshment (19.68±4.57), very low rigid operation (21.7±4.26), very low chaotic functioning (16.43±4.48), high family communication level (38.78±7.96), connected balanced cohesion (28.18±5.47), very flexible balanced flexibility (26.81±4.56), and low level of family satisfaction (34.53±8.04). A very low chaotic functioning in the family (B=-11.37, Beta=-0.49, 99%CI=-19.54, -3.19), very high and low communication (B=-6.04, Beta=-0.33, 99%CI=-11.42, -0.67; B=-11.85, Beta=-0.46, 99%CI=-20.13, -3.58, respectively), very flexible balanced flexibility (B=-10.36, Beta=-0.67, 99%CI=-15.77, -4.94) and younger age (B=-0.31, Beta=-0.37, 99%CI=-0.59, -0.04) predicted a lower FCR score. Balanced flexibility and the quality of communication within the family were associated with a decreased FCR, while chaotic family functioning increased FCR severity. Cohesion, disengagement, enmeshment, and family satisfaction did not impact the severity of FCR.

Recurrent Acute Otitis Media Could Be Related to the Pro-Inflammatory State That Causes an Incorrect Diet

Introduction: Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is the most commonly-occurring bacterial complication in childhood. After making certain corrections to the patients’ dietary habits, which we found to be excessively high in animal-based and industrially-processed foods, we observed a significant reduction in recurrent colds and their bacterial complications. We promote an original way of treating these diseases, since until now the conventional treatment is based on pharmacological and surgical treatment. From our point of view, the mucosa that covers the entire ENT area is in a pro-inflammatory and hyper-reactive state, as a consequence of the alterations produced by an inadequate diet. For us there is no difference in the nutritional treatment of the different mucous membranes that cover the ENT area. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) on patients diagnosed with Recurring Acute Otitis Media (RAOM). Methods: prospective pre-postest comparison study with 48 girls and 42 boys aged 1–5 years, each of whom had been and included on the 1-year programme “Learning to eat the Mediterranean Way”, designed to encourage the adoption of the TMD. We studied clinical and therapeutic variables and various anthropometric parameters. Results: all the symptomatic indicators studied (number and intensity of episodes of otitis and emergency admissions) showed a positive and statistically significant evolution in RAOM. By the end of the study, none of the patients met the criteria for classification as RAOM, and 60% percent of patients did not present any further episodes of AOM. In line with the above, the use of anti-microbial drugs and symptomatic treatments reduced considerably; the use of antibiotics dropped from 4.30 occasions/patient/year, to 0.66 (p &lt; 0.001), and the used of symptomatic treatments dropped from 7.63 to 2.75 (p &lt; 0.001). The level of family satisfaction was very high. Conclusions: the adoption of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet has been demonstrated to significantly reduce occurrence of acute otitis media and may contribute to the treatment of patients diagnosed with recurrent acute otitis media.

Supervisor expectations regarding work-related messages: their differential effects among remote and on-site workers

PurposeResearch suggests that supervisor expectations regarding the need to respond quickly to work-related messages (SE) tend to be positively related to employees' levels of emotional exhaustion. In the present research paper, the authors examine the indirect – through emotional exhaustion – effects of these expectations on employees' levels of family satisfaction, life satisfaction and sleep quality. They also explore whether and how these associations differ between employees working on-site (n = 158) or remotely (n = 284).Design/methodology/approachA total of 442 employees completed an online survey that covered measures on SE, emotional exhaustion, family and life satisfaction and sleep quality.FindingsAs hypothesized, the results of the study revealed that the indirect effects of SE on family satisfaction, life satisfaction and sleep quality were significantly mediated by emotional exhaustion. Finally, the relations between SE and the mediator (emotional exhaustion) were stronger among employees working on-site than among employees working remotely.Practical implicationsSE prevention could be encouraged to decrease employees' emotional exhaustion, in turn increasing their sleep quality, family satisfaction and life satisfaction.Originality/valueThese results revealed that working remotely helped buffer the undesirable effects of SE on emotional exhaustion.

Tingkat Kepuasan Keluarga Pasien Rawat Inap Peserta Program BPJS Kesehatan Berdasarkan Status Kepesertaan

This study aims to determine the difference in the level of family satisfaction of BPJS PBI and non-PBI patients in the inpatient room at Mutiara Sukma Hospital, NTB. This research is a quantitative research using a cross-sectional approach. The results of this study indicate that there is no difference in the level of family satisfaction of BPJS PBI and BPJS non-PBI patients. Based on the IKM value, the level of family satisfaction of non-PBI BPJS patients is higher than that of BPJS PBI. Still, based on statistical tests using Mann-Whitney, it shows that there is no significant difference between family satisfaction of BPJS PBI patients and BPJS non-PBI patients (p = 0.698). In conclusion, overall, there is no difference in the level of family satisfaction of BPJS PBI and non-PBI patients.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: BPJS, Health Insurance, Satisfaction

The influence of family’s cohesion and adaptability in family satisfaction of parents with a child with autism spectrum disorder

The current study examined whether there was significant relationship among family functioning (cohesion and adaptability) and overall family satisfaction in parents with a child with autism spectrum disorder. It was predicted that poor family adaptive functioning, poor family cohesion along with other family-related variables (child diagnosis, parents' marital status, and other siblings in the family) would predict lower levels of family satisfaction. 73 mothers and 27 fathers of a child with ASD participated in this study. Google forms were used in this electronic web research. Data were collected using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III) and the Family satisfaction scale (FSS). This study's results demonstrate that family adaptability along with a child's autism spectrum disorder diagnosis may be significant predictors of family satisfaction. Findings report the significance of identifying discrepancies in family functioning as they provide an insight into how family members not only view but also how they interact with each other which in turn can inform clinical interventions and the therapeutic work.

Comparison of care accessibility, costs, and quality with face-to-face and telehealth epilepsy clinic visits

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on reimbursement for telehealth visits were lifted and this visit type was suddenly available to patients around the United States of America. Telehealth visits offer potential cost savings for patients and families, which may vary by region of the world studied. Also, aggressiveness of the care patients receive may differ, and patients or families may be more likely to choose one visit type over another based on seizure control.This is a prospective face-to-face clinic versus telehealth clinic visit comparison study involving patients with seizures, their legal guardians, and caretakers who attend clinic. We compared travel distance, work-related factors, childcare, satisfaction of care, changes in seizure medication or diagnostics tests ordered, and willingness to cancel appointments to better understand the behavioral patterns of patients, caretakers, and providers.Our results indicate that many patients and families still prefer in-person interactions with their medical providers. Patient and family satisfaction levels were equal with both visit types. No significant difference was seen in medical management between face-to-face and telehealth visits. Also, prior seizure control did not dictate the type of visit chosen. Telehealth participants were significantly more willing to cancel appointments if asked to switch to face-to-face then face-to-face participants asked to complete telehealth visits. Surprisingly, we found that patients and families choosing telehealth were not statistically more likely to be employed or take less time off work. Also, distance from home to office was not significantly shorter for participants choosing face-to-face visits.Offering a combination of telehealth and face-to-face visits appears to be the optimal strategy in caring for patients with controlled and uncontrolled seizure disorders to ensure adherence with clinic visits and satisfaction with care. Our study suggests that providers are equally willing to adjust medications or order additional diagnostic testing regardless of visit type. Patients and families may be less likely to cancel telehealth visits than face-to-face visits; this finding may translate to improved seizure control and long-term decreased cost of care.

A Study on Work-Life Balance of Employees at Apple Paints, Hubli

Work-life balance is considered to be important for both, business practice and academic research. The literature shows that work-life balance is a central issue affecting wellbeing, as family and work are the most important elements of everyone's life. Any competing demands of work and family life cause conflict and negatively affect the wellbeing of workers. This study focused on assessing the impact of work-life balance determined by work- family conflict and family work conflict on the wellbeing of individuals employed in the private sector in India. Wellbeing was measured by levels of family satisfaction, work satisfaction and psychological distress. Quantitative research methods were used for the study, and a sample population was chosen amongst participants who were single and in a relationship, female and male, with and without children, by using a convenient sampling method. Findings of the study revealed that while work interference with personal life and personal life interference with work had a negative relationship with job satisfaction, work and personal life enhancement had a positive relationship with job satisfaction. Thus, we can safely conclude that work and personal life needs to be integrated and balanced by organizations through work-life balance initiatives.

Family profiles based on family life satisfaction in dual-earner households with adolescent children in Chile.

Research has stressed the importance of the family domain for the individual's well-being, but the heterogeneity/homogeneity of satisfaction with family life between and within families have not previously assessed. This study identifies family profiles based on the level of family life satisfaction in mother-father-adolescent triads and determines whether profiles differ in terms of the three family members' perceived family support, importance assigned to the family, both parents' work-life balance and mental health, and the household's economic situation. The sample was composed of 303 families of different-sex dual-earner parents with one child aged between 10 and 17years, from Temuco, Chile. A Latent Profile Analysis was used to identify three profiles: Families with low family satisfaction (17.80%), Families with medium family satisfaction (68.14%), and Families with high family satisfaction (14.06%). Profiles also differed in the three family members' perceived family support and importance assigned to the family, both parents' work-life balance and mental health, and in the household's income. Mothers, fathers, and adolescents in these profiles also differed from one another in these variables. The main variable related to the family members' satisfaction with family life was the parents' mental health problems. Family life satisfaction in dual-earner couples with adolescent children is heterogenous, and these profiles draw attention to indicators of parent-child well-being. Families with lower levels of family satisfaction require particular attention in research and interventions, as these families may report a lower household income, and the parents may experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress, and diverging levels of work-life balance.

FAMILY RELATIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE YOUTHS WITH SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Research on youth's suicidal behavior often focuses on individuals rather than families. This exploratory research is related to family relations in female youths with suicidal behavior. This study's respondents were ten suicidal female youths (aged 15 to 24) divided into two groups: ' attempt' and 'no-attempt'. The FACES IV, family communication scale, and family satisfaction scale were given at the beginning of the study, which was continued with in-depth interviews to explore the flexibility, cohesion, and communication of their family relations. In the attempt group, FACES IV resulted in low balanced cohesion (35.8 respectively), low balanced flexibility (41.2 respectively), and low family communication (15.4 respectively). Surprisingly, all participants of both groups rated their family satisfaction levels low, meaning that all participants were dissatisfied with the family functioning. The interview resulted in eight main themes: lack of emotional closeness, family conflict, sibling relationship, leadership in the family, obedience, autonomy, and control, and mendhem rasa (buried emotion, in Javanese culture), and weak communication skills. In conclusion, the family's hierarchical relationships, family conflict, and emotional distance become the risk factors for adolescent suicidal behavior. The perspectives found in this study with suicidal female youths suggest that family-based prevention and intervention of suicidal behavior in youths need to understand family cultural values while encouraging to build emotional closeness and communication skills in the family.

Effects of Information Delivery Intervention for the Family of Patients Undergoing Surgery on Emergency in South Korea

The family of emergency surgery patients experience psychological pressure due to the uncertainty of the surgery. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of information delivery intervention provided by an operation theater nurse on anxiety and satisfaction levels of the family of emergency surgery patients. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design is used. A total of 60 participants were included in the study as the family of patients undergoing emergency surgery within 6 hr in the emergency room of K hospital in Seoul, Korea (intervention: n = 30, control: n = 30). The information delivery intervention consisted of information on the operating room environment and surgery progress. The tools included the Anxiety scale to examine the anxiety levels and Perioperative Family Needs Questionnaire (PFNQ) to measure family satisfaction levels. Participants in the intervention group had a lower anxiety level ( p &lt; .001) and higher family satisfaction with the intervention ( p &lt; .001) than that of the control group. The information delivery intervention provided by an operation theater nurse was effective. It decreased the anxiety level and increased the satisfaction for the family member of emergency surgery patients. These findings can be used as clinical evidence to explore nursing interventions or strategies for the patient’s family during an emergency surgery.

Motivation and motivation-related factors in children with disabilities.

Assessing motivation and motivation-related factors will contribute to a better understanding of motivation and the development of optimal rehabilitation conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the motivation level and investigate the relationship of motivation level with socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, comorbidities), functional level, and family satisfaction with rehabilitation centers in children with disabilities. Sixty-two children with disabilities were included in the study, and the socio-demographic characteristics were recorded. Children were assessed by the Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMOT) and the Pediatric Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM). Also, parents were asked to complete a questionnaire titled, "A patient satisfaction instrument for outpatient physical therapy clinics." The mean age of the children was 12.16 ± 3.19 years. Total PMOT and WeeFIM scores were found to be 93.71 ± 9.66 and 108.23 ± 22.14, respectively. There was a positive correlation between children's PMOT score and the satisfaction score of their families that was statistically significant (r= 0.602, p< 0.05). The level of family satisfaction with rehabilitation centers was found to be positively correlated with the motivation level of children. Improving family satisfaction with rehabilitation centers, potentially through modifying the physical conditions of rehabilitation centers and focusing on the interest of the family, may increase the motivation level of children, and thus may improve rehabilitation outcomes.

The Family Satisfaction on Nursing Services at the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND: Satisfaction is a person’s feeling of pleasure when what is expected is in line with what happens. The good and bad quality of hospital services can be measured through the patients and families’ satisfaction in receiving health services, especially nursing services. Nurses are a health profession that has an important role in providing health services. They are also the hospital health workers who have the most frequent and the longest contact with patients and families. AIM: This study aims to identify the level of family’s satisfaction in nursing services at the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This was a quantitative study with descriptive explanatory design, conducted in 30 families of patients in the ICU with a total sampling technique using the rater instrument and met with the inclusion criteria. The variables in this study were a description of the level of family satisfaction in nursing service at the ICU. Data analysis using frequency distribution and displayed in table content. RESULTS: The characteristics of respondents in this study showed that most of the respondents were 41–56 years old (66.7%). Based on the gender, most of them were female, with a total of 22 respondents (73.3%). Furthermore, based on the data of the respondent’s occupation, 14 of them were self-employed (46.7%) and based on the data of the latest educational background, most of the respondents’ recent education was high school level with a total of 12 people (40.0%). The level of family satisfaction in nursing services showed that 15 people (50%) were satisfied and the other 15 people (50%) felt very satisfied. CONCLUSION: The result of the study showed that all respondents feel satisfied with the nursing services at the ICU and that the nurses tend to maintain it.

Effect of preoperative education and ICU tour on patient and family satisfaction and anxiety in the intensive care unit after elective cardiac surgery: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundPreoperative education may help participants to psychologically prepare themselves for surgery, but the outcomes of such preparation have rarely been assessed in patients requiring postoperative care in the intensive care...

Efficacy of scopolamine transdermal patch in children with sialorrhea in a pediatric tertiary care hospital

BackgroundDrooling is common in children with neurological disorders, but its management is very challenging, Scopolamine transdermal patch (STP) appears to be useful in controlling drooling, although it is not approved for this indication and there are limited clinical studies about its effectiveness. This study aimed (1) to assess the impact of STP use on the severity of drooling and on the frequency of emergency department (ED) and hospital readmission (RA) visits related to drooling, and (2) to determine the level of family satisfaction with STP when used in children with neurological disorders.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of all pediatric patients aged 3–14 years, with non-progressive neurodevelopmental disability, who used STP for more than one year during the period between April 2015 and July 2018 (n = 44). Data on demographics, clinical status, comorbidities, STP dose and duration, other medications, ED and RA visits were collected. Follow-up phone-call interviews with parents/caregivers were performed using a parent-reported frequency and severity rating scale of sialorrhea. Absolute and relative risk reductions were calculated to assess the impact of STP on ED and RA visits. Significance was considered at p-value of ≤ 0.05.ResultsSTP use showed significant reduction in severity of drooling (p < 0.001), wiping of the child’s mouth (p < 0.001), bibs or clothing changes (p < 0.001), choking and aspiration of saliva (p = 0.001). The Relative Risk Reduction of the drooling-related ED and RA visits were 86% and 67% respectively. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of caregivers were satisfied with using STP.ConclusionsThis is the first study of its kind done in Saudi Arabia demonstrating favorable impact of STP use by children on the consequences associated with drooling and with the frequency of ER and RA visits due to drooling. Development of a medication use protocol is recommended to standardize STP treatment in order to optimize its effectiveness. This study serves as baseline information for future prospective interventional studies.