BACKGROUND: There has been little research on the stress experienced by parents of children who have undergone heart transplantation. METHODS: Parents of 52 consecutive pediatric heart transplant recipients completed questionnaires assessing illness-related parenting stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms at a routine clinic visit. Medical charts were reviewed retrospectively to gather peri- and post-operative information. RESULTS: The average age of patients at transplant was 12 years (range 1 to 18 years), and participation occurred 3 months to 10 years post-transplant (median 2.5 years). Nearly 40% of parents indicated moderately severe to severe post-traumatic stress symptoms. Ten of the 52 participating parents met DSM-IV-TR clinical diagnostic criteria for current post-traumatic stress disorder. Parents also identified significant levels of illness-related parenting stress in the areas of communication around the child's illness, emotional distress, managing the child's medical care, and balancing role functions. CONCLUSIONS: Illness-related parenting stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms are significant concerns among parents of pediatric heart transplant patients. Parents' psychologic functioning post-transplant should be routinely assessed and addressed by transplant teams.
BACKGROUND: There has been little research on the stress experienced by parents of children who have undergone heart transplantation. METHODS: Parents of 52 consecutive pediatric heart transplant recipients completed questionnaires assessing illness-related parenting stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms at a routine clinic visit. Medical charts were reviewed retrospectively to gather peri- and post-operative information. RESULTS: The average age of patients at transplant was 12 years (range 1 to 18 years), and participation occurred 3 months to 10 years post-transplant (median 2.5 years). Nearly 40% of parents indicated moderately severe to severe post-traumatic stress symptoms. Ten of the 52 participating parents met DSM-IV-TR clinical diagnostic criteria for current post-traumatic stress disorder. Parents also identified significant levels of illness-related parenting stress in the areas of communication around the child's illness, emotional distress, managing the child's medical care, and balancing role functions. CONCLUSIONS: Illness-related parenting stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms are significant concerns among parents of pediatric heart transplant patients. Parents' psychologic functioning post-transplant should be routinely assessed and addressed by transplant teams.
Authors: Caroline Andonian; Fabian Langer; Jürgen Beckmann; Gert Bischoff; Peter Ewert; Sebastian Freilinger; Harald Kaemmerer; Renate Oberhoffer; Lars Pieper; Rhoia Clara Neidenbach Journal: Cardiovasc Diagn Ther Date: 2019-10
Authors: Sabina Biber; Caroline Andonian; Jürgen Beckmann; Peter Ewert; Sebastian Freilinger; Nicole Nagdyman; Harald Kaemmerer; Renate Oberhoffer; Lars Pieper; Rhoia Clara Neidenbach Journal: Cardiovasc Diagn Ther Date: 2019-10
Authors: Silvia Wiedebusch; Martin Konrad; Helmut Foppe; Evelyn Reichwald-Klugger; Franz Schaefer; Vera Schreiber; Fritz A Muthny Journal: Pediatr Nephrol Date: 2010-05-12 Impact factor: 3.714
Authors: Nadya Golfenshtein; Alexandra L Hanlon; Janet A Deatrick; Barbara Medoff-Cooper Journal: Congenit Heart Dis Date: 2019-10-27 Impact factor: 2.007