The Impact of Chronic Diseases on Children and Their Families - Research Paper Example

?Running head: Chronic diseases impact The impact of chronic diseases on children and their families The impact of chronic diseases on children and their families Purpose This report has been undertaken to provide crucial data for caregivers and health professionals caring for children, as well as their families on the current practices and problems encountered in managing and improving the health of chronically ill Australian school-age children. Specifically, it shall discuss the important responsibilities which nurses play within the purview of primary health care, in terms of education, advocacy, and partnerships Introduction This study will specifically discuss the factors for chronic diseases among children in Australia. It shall consider the impact that these chronic diseases have on family. Due to the scale of this issue, school-age children shall be considered the focus of this study. This study shall then be concluded based on recommendations which nurses can implement as primary health care givers. Definitions School-age children. Based on Erik Erikson’s theories, school-age children are those from ages 6-12 years, and involved in their first years of formative education (Hatfield, 2007). The task they have to overcome relate to industry and inferiority, where they have to learn to accept their success and failures with the support of their families (Berger, 2009). Chronic illness. This is an illness which lasts for a long period of time. In the medical world, a disease is considered chronic if it lasts three months or more (Medterms, 2011). Primary health care. This is the type of health care offered at the smallest unit of local governance. It is usually where initial care is gained by patients. Its goals include the reduction of inequities, integration of health into public policy reforms, and increasing stakeholder involvement (WHO, 2011). Background Chronic diseases among children are significant health issues because they impact significantly on the quality of lives and on the development of children (Slater, et.al., 2010). In Australia, (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006), asthma is considered the most common chronic illness among children 0-14 years of age. In recent years, diabetes has also increased in incidence; moreover, although not commonly seen among children in Australia, cancer has also become one of the most common causes of death among Australian children (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006). Other chronic illnesses seen among Australia’s school-age children include cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Risk factors for this disease are mostly modifiable risks which include childhood obesity, unhealthy, and lack of physical activity (Berk, 2008). These chronic conditions impact on children as well as their families because they take place at a time which is crucial to the child’s development (Slater, et.al., 2010). In some cases, care for these children often lasts a lifetime, as seen in diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Slater, et.al., 2010). For example, Type 1 diabetes calls for lifetime care and multiprofessional medical management; moreover, self-management needs to be emphasized to the child for eventual independent management. It is also a costly type of care because of the prolonged nature of the disease and the prolonged treatment needed (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006). The illness and the treatment process involved can impact negatively on the children and their families, economically, socially, as well as psychologically. As these children are still developing physically and emotionally, their care is different from the care required of chronically ill adults (Wilson, et.al., 2008). Even as the social and economic conditions of the families can also impact on a child’s overall care, it is also a crucial element in the overall outcome of chronic childhood diseases. Moreover, children who have chronic illnesses, along with their families have a high risk of experiencing psychological and emotional issues (Martin and Fabes, 2008). Parents are more likely to undergo emotional stress over their child’s condition, and other children would likely go through neglect as well as other feelings of deprivation due to their sibling’s chronic disease (Martin and Fabes, 2008). Discussion Chronic diseases among children cause issues in his normal development, issues which mostly relate to delayed developmental processes. Varni, et.al., (2007) describes how children with diabetes, GI conditions, cardiac afflictions, asthma, obesity, ESRD, psychiatric issues, cancer, and cerebral palsy manifested with an impaired health-related quality of life, as compared to healthy children. The study revealed that those with cerebral palsy manifested the most impairment, and those with diabetes presented with the best quality of life. Among parents, they expressed that cardiac afflictions, diabetes, obesity, GI diseases, ESRD, asthma, cancer, and cerebral palsy caused a decreased quality in their lives (Varni, et.al., 2007). Children with chronic diseases often manifested with a decreased physical functions, including reduced emotional and social functioning as compared to other healthy children. Barlow and Ellard (2006) also discuss the impact of chronic diseases on children, while reviewing asthma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and sickle cell anemia on the well-being of children. The study revealed that these children had a higher incidence of psychological distress, as compared to other normal children. In an analysis of children with chronic skin disease, Beattie and Lewis-Jones (2006) also discussed that children reported a decreased quality in their life due to their skin affliction. As compared to other chronic diseases, an analysis of the child’s life quality index indicated that the child’s condition equaled atleast the health quality issues experienced by the child. In a similar study by Grootenhuis, et.al. (2007), the authors were able establish that children with chronic issues have problems in relation to the quality of their lives, especially in terms of motor functioning among asthma and cancer patients. These issues are also different according to the disease being suffered by the patient, making the health issues disease-specific. In considering specific diseases, the impact of asthma on school children was evaluated in a study by Collins, et.al., (2008). Their study sought to evaluate the relationship between asthma and social elements among school-age children. The authors were able to establish that school children with asthma were more likely to have had a history of treatment for mental health issues as they often manifested symptoms of being unhappy in school, being absent, having poor health, being in chronic pain, and less likely to have any friends to play with. In effect, this study demonstrated the negative psychological impact of chronic illnesses on children; hence the importance of focusing on treatment measures sensitive to these psychological issues (Collins, et.al., 2008). In assessing the impact of chronic kidney disease on parents, Tong, et.al., (2008), three themes were established: intrapersonal (living with constant uncertainty, stress, maintaining vigilance despite fatigue); interpersonal (medicalization of the their role, dependence on and disagreements with staff, disrupted social life); external issues (implementation of the treatment regimen, seeking of data, transport, accommodations, finances, diet restrictions for the child, balancing medical and other responsibilities) (Tong, et.al., 2008). The authors concluded that parents of chronically ill children are challenged with having to juggle and perform various goals; moreover, the need for these parents to be equipped with multidisciplinary skills has been highlighted by this study. The importance of a strong parental unit – both parents – being present and supportive as parents for their chronically ill children has also been emphasized in a study by Gavin and Wysocki, (2006). The study revealed that the more paternal involvement in the care of the chronically ill child led to improved maternal symptoms as well as a decreased impact of the disease on the family functioning. In effect, the importance or a supportive spousal relationship was seen in this study and in establishing improved patient outcomes. In comparing child and parent-reported quality of life for chronically ill children, Uzark, et.al., (2008) discussed these differences. The study revealed that pediatric scores for quality of life were much lower than that of the normal children, in terms of physical and psychosocial functioning. Among parents, they reported also lower pediatric quality of life for their children with chronic diseases. All in all, children with chronic diseases saw a lower quality in their lives, especially in terms of their physical and psychological functions; this perception was shared by parents, but parents viewed children with cardiovascular diseases to have an even worse physical and psychological quality in their lives (Uzark, et.al., 2008). Recommendations In order to address the issues raised above, it is important for the health care givers in the primary health setting to address the child’s and his family’s psychological issues. It is the responsibility of health professionals in the primary health setting to engage these children and their families in activities which seek to relieve them of the burden of their disease. Not allowing discrimination against these children in terms of access to health services and social activities would help ensure emotional well-being of these patients. Assisting parents in their administration of care, by sending health professionals to assist in the medical care can help ensure that the nurse complies with the competency in relation to the planning of nursing care in “consultation with individuals/groups, significant others and the interdisciplinary health care team” (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008, p. 5). Health activities in the community including exercise and physical activity can also be established with the patients in mind – engaging their interest and their participation in terms of games, sports activities, and similar activities based on their tolerance. These activities help to prevent chronic diseases as well as promote the health of patients and their families with chronic diseases Conclusion This study discussed the impact of chronic diseases among children and their families in Australia. Based on the above study, chronic diseases have been known to cause negative physical and psychological effects on the patients as well as their families. Motor functioning is also affected leading to a decreased quality of life. Based on these effects, recommendations for care must therefore be based on addressing the psychological issues of these children, including their families. Engaging the interest of patients in sports and activities which promote their health and their improved quality of life can help ensure adequate recovery. With adequate support from the health professionals for these children and their families it is possible to reduce the impact of chronic diseases and improve the health outcomes for these children Works Cited Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. (2006). Selected chronic diseases among Australia’s children. AIHW bulletin no. 29. Cat. no. AUS 62. Canberra: AIHW. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2008). 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Grootenhuis, M., Koopman, H., Verrips, G., Vogels, A., & Last, B. (2007). Health-related quality of life problems of children aged 8–11 years with a chronic disease. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, volume 10(1): pp. 27–33. Hatfield, N. (2007). Broadribb's Introductory Pediatric Nursing. Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Martin, C. & Fabes, R. (2008). Discovering Child Development. Sydney: Cengage Learning. Medterms. (2011). Definition of Chronic illness. Retrieved 29 August 2011 from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2731 Slater, L., Tilbury, C., Talay-Ongan, A., Bigner, J. J., Berk, L. E., Murray, R. B., Towle, M. A., & Ball, J. (Eds.). (2010). Family health care: Child & adolescent nursing. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia. Tong, A., Lowe, A., Sainsbury, P., & Craig, J., (2008). Experiences of Parents Who Have Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies. Pediatrics, volume 121(5), pp. pp. 349 -360. Uzark, K., Jones, K., Slusher, J., Limbers, C., Burwinkle, T., & Varni, J. (2006). Quality of Life in Children with Heart Disease as Perceived by Children and Parents. J. Pediatr. Psychol., volume 31 (5): pp. 481-489. Varni, J., Limbers, C. & Burwinkle, T. (2007). Impaired health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic conditions: a comparative analysis of 10 disease clusters and 33 disease categories/severities utilizing the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, volume 5: p. 43 World Health Organization. (2011). Primary health care. Retrieved 29 August 2011 from http://www.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/ Read More