Kathrin Buder1, Helene Werner2, Markus A Landolt2,3, Thomas J Neuhaus4, Guido F Laube1, Giuseppina Spartà5. 1. Pediatric Nephrology Unit, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Child and Adolescent Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14, 8051, Zurich, Switzerland. 4. Children's Hospital of Lucerne, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, 6000, Lucerne 16, Switzerland. 5. Pediatric Nephrology Unit, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. giuseppina.sparta@kispi.uzh.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health of parents having children with a history of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). METHODS: This study included 63 mothers and 58 fathers of a cohort of 63 HUS-affected children. At assessment, the mean time since a child experienced an acute episode of HUS was 6.4 years. Parental HRQoL, mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed with standardized self-report questionnaires. Medical data were extracted from patients' hospital records. RESULTS: The HRQoL and mental health of both the mothers and fathers were not impaired compared to normative data. However, a shorter time since a child's acute HUS episode was a significant predictor of lower HRQoL among the mothers, while no such effect was found among the fathers. Two fathers (3%), but no mothers, met the criteria for a diagnosis of HUS-related full PTSD; one father (2%) and four mothers (6%) met the criteria for a diagnosis of HUS-related partial PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that most parents of our study sample were doing well in terms of HRQoL and mental health, although a small number met the criteria for full or partial PTSD diagnosis due to their child's HUS. We therefore recommend that healthcare providers pay special attention to parents regarding PTSD symptoms during the clinical follow-up of a HUS-affected child since some parents may benefit from psychological support.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health of parents having children with a history of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). METHODS: This study included 63 mothers and 58 fathers of a cohort of 63 HUS-affected children. At assessment, the mean time since a child experienced an acute episode of HUS was 6.4 years. Parental HRQoL, mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed with standardized self-report questionnaires. Medical data were extracted from patients' hospital records. RESULTS: The HRQoL and mental health of both the mothers and fathers were not impaired compared to normative data. However, a shorter time since a child's acute HUS episode was a significant predictor of lower HRQoL among the mothers, while no such effect was found among the fathers. Two fathers (3%), but no mothers, met the criteria for a diagnosis of HUS-related full PTSD; one father (2%) and four mothers (6%) met the criteria for a diagnosis of HUS-related partial PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that most parents of our study sample were doing well in terms of HRQoL and mental health, although a small number met the criteria for full or partial PTSD diagnosis due to their child's HUS. We therefore recommend that healthcare providers pay special attention to parents regarding PTSD symptoms during the clinical follow-up of a HUS-affected child since some parents may benefit from psychological support.
Authors: Mariana Cabizuca; Carla Marques-Portella; Mauro V Mendlowicz; Evandro S F Coutinho; Ivan Figueira Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Hedy A van Oers; Carline E Tacke; Lotte Haverman; Irene M Kuipers; Heleen Maurice-Stam; Taco W Kuijpers; Martha A Grootenhuis Journal: Acta Paediatr Date: 2014-03-26 Impact factor: 2.299
Authors: Helene Werner; Kathrin Buder; Markus A Landolt; Thomas J Neuhaus; Guido F Laube; Giuseppina Spartà Journal: Pediatr Nephrol Date: 2016-12-23 Impact factor: 3.714