The life experiences of Korean children and adolescents with complex congenital heart disease: a qualitative study

Experiences of loneliness and social isolation among young people with chronic physical conditions: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

INTRODUCTION

Young people with chronic health conditions are among the most at risk of having poor social connections, however, little is known about their experiences of loneliness and social isolation. We aimed to describe the perspectives and experiences of loneliness and social isolation among young people with chronic physical conditions.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and CENTRAL from inception to May 2023 for qualitative studies that described the perspectives of loneliness and social isolation in young people aged 10-24 years with chronic physical conditions. Findings from the included studies were analyzed using thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

We included 35 studies across 12 countries involving 723 participants (56% female). Most studies (63%) were conducted in young people with cancer. Four major themes were identified: suffering from repercussions of disease (struggling with body image and physical changes, intensified disconnection while hospitalized); hindering relationships with peers and friends (missing out on formative experiences, feeling stuck behind, restrictive parental attitudes); grappling with social exclusion (facing concerns alone, bullying and ostracism); seeking social support and self-help (reliance on family, kindness and empathy from friends, developing rapport with healthcare professionals, discovering self in adversity).

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms, treatments, and hospitalizations limited young people's social participation and ability to maintain friendships, and this was compounded by social exclusion and bullying. Supportive friends, family, and healthcare professionals helped mitigate feelings of isolation. Interventions and strategies are needed to improve social support and foster meaningful connections. This can be achieved through education and awareness initiatives that promote inclusion in schools and the community, as well as efforts to enhance social support and continuity of care in hospitals.

Exploring the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families: a systematic review of qualitative studies

PURPOSE

Asian children and youth with disabilities often experience multiple barriers, stigmas and discrimination within and outside their families; yet less is understood about their lived experiences. This systematic review explored the experiences of ableism among Asian children and youth with disabilities and their families.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies and a qualitative meta-synthesis. We searched six databases including Ovid Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, Healthstar, Web of Science, and Scopus.

RESULTS

Forty-two articles met our inclusion criteria involving 17 countries and regions over a 22-year period. The findings were synthesized into four themes: (1) individual- and family-level ableism (i.e., stigma, fears, concerns, stress and anxieties, physical abuse, bullying, reduced engagement in community activities); (2) institutional-level ableism (i.e., barriers to accessing and navigating supports, ableist attitudes among service providers, unavailable services); (3) societal-level ableism (i.e., cultural and religious stigma, social rejection, discrimination, environmental and policy barriers); and (4) coping strategies (i.e., self-care activities, supports from family, friends and people with similar conditions, religious beliefs).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the ableist experiences that Asian children and youth with disabilities and their caregivers often encounter and the strong need for further supports to address ableism using culturally responsive strategies.

Children's behavioural and emotional reactions towards living with congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia: A grounded theory study

BACKGROUND

A high incidence of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) was found in Saudi Arabia (SA). International literature reports that children with CHD exhibit behavioural and emotional issues due to experiencing hospitalisation and clinical treatments combined with a dearth of qualitative understanding of the experiences of younger children with CHD. Therefore, the aim was to explore the behaviour and emotions of 4-10-year-olds with CHD in SA through children's accounts of their own experiences and parental proxy reports of children's behaviour and emotions.

METHODS

Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory (GT) approach was used. Twenty single semi-structured interviews of 10 child/parent dyads were undertaken at a hospital clinic in SA. Children's interviews were combined with an arts-based approach using drawings, pictures and faces of emotions (emojis). Constant comparison analysis was undertaken. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines was followed in reporting this study.

FINDINGS

A substantive GT: children's behavioural and emotional reactions towards stressors related to living with CHD was developed and provides new insights into children's and parents' perceptions of the children's behavioural and emotional reactions to living with CHD in SA. The theory proposes that children's reactions to living with CHD relate to medical treatment stressors, sociocultural stressors and physical change stressors. Several further factors influenced children's responses to these stressors.

CONCLUSION

Children and parents in SA contributed to a new understanding of the relationship between CHD and children's behavioural and emotional reactions. In addition, findings support the need for early assessment of behaviour and emotions among children with CHD and the application of preventative and supportive measures for the children and their families in SA.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Before the research commenced, the developmental appropriateness of the proposed arts-based data collection tools was tested with three healthy children aged 6-9 years old; the tools were then revised accordingly before the interviews were undertaken.

"The only thing I wonder is when I will have surgery again": everyday life for children with right ventricle outflow tract anomalies during assessment for heart surgery

BACKGROUND

Children with right ventricle outflow tract anomalies require repeated heart surgeries, thereby needing regular preoperative assessments throughout their lifetime. This situation puts a heavy burden on these children. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore how children diagnosed with right ventricle outflow tract anomalies experience their heart disease and their everyday life during the preoperative assessment and after the decision on whether to perform a new cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Individual interviews were conducted with nine children between 9 to 17 years of age on three occasions from 2014 to 2016. In total there were 27 interviews which all were analyzed with thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis yielded three themes and eight subthemes. The theme Me and my heart disease concerns children's experiences of the heart disease. Almost all described symptoms and how they adapt in their everyday life. The theme Being me concerns the children's sense of self, where their heart disease was not prominent. The theme Being placed in someone else's hands describes how the assessment was more of a safety net at least until the decision of heart surgery.

CONCLUSION

The children's symptoms, their experiences during the assessment, their future surgeries and how the heart disease affects their everyday life could be better understood as elements of their adaptation to the heart disease. In order to achieve individualized support based on the child's experiences and to ensure that these children are involved in their own care a child-centered approach is recommended.

Parental experience of the neuromotor development of children with congenital heart disease: an exploratory qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Children with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) are a group of children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. Motor development is the first domain to show a delay during the first year of life and may significantly contribute to parental concerns, stress, and difficulties in early child-parent attachment. Thus, the aim of the study was to better understand the wishes and concerns of parents of children with CHD and explore their experience of their children's neuromotor development in the first year of life.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, fourteen families were recruited. Their children were aged 1-3 years and had undergone open heart surgery within the first 6 months of life. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data was explored within an expert group, and a qualitative content analysis was conducted using VERBI MAXQDA software 2020. The study was conducted in accordance with the COREQ checklist.

RESULTS

Parents of children with CHD reported several burdens and needs. Parental burdens concerned the child's motor development, their own physical and psychological strain, and difficulties in communication with healthcare professionals. The needs, parents reported included supporting their child's motor development, a medical coordinator, and better communication between healthcare professionals and parents. During the first phase of their children's illness, parents underwent a dynamic transitional phase and expressed the need to rely on themselves, to trust their children's abilities, and to regain self-determination in order to strengthen their self-confidence.

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential to involve parents of children with CHD at an early stage of decision-making. Parents are experts in their children and appreciate medical information provided by healthcare professionals. Interprofessional teamwork, partnering with parents, and continuous support are crucial to providing the best possible care for children and their families. Family-centred early motor intervention for CHD children might counteract the effect of parental overprotection and improve children's motor development and thus strengthen child-parent interaction. In future work, we aim to evaluate a family-centred early motor intervention for children with CHD developed on the basis of this qualitative study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Optimism despite profound uncertainty: school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease

BACKGROUND

Survivors of single ventricle heart disease must cope with the physical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial sequelae of their cardiac disease, which may also affect academic achievement and social relationships. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the experiences of school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease.

METHODS

A descriptive phenomenological methodology was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained via chart review.

RESULTS

Fourteen adolescents (aged 14 to 19 years) with single ventricle heart disease participated. Interviews ranged from 25 to 80 minutes in duration. Four themes emerged from the interviews, including "Don't assume": Pervasive ableism; "The elephant in the room": Uncertain future; "Everyone finds something to pick on": Bullying at school; "They know what I have been through": Social support. The overall essence generated from the data was "optimism despite profound uncertainty."

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with single ventricle heart disease identified physical limitations and school challenges in the face of an uncertain health-related future. Despite physical and psychosocial limitations, most remained optimistic for the future and found activities that were congruent with their abilities. These experiences reflect "optimism despite profound uncertainty."

Influence of transition readiness from paediatric to adult health care on quality of life in child-parent dyads with long-term conditions

AIM

To delineate the impact of perspective of children's transition readiness from paediatric to adult health care on quality of life in child-parent dyads with long-term conditions. We used Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to identify actor effects (effect of one's own transition readiness on one's own quality of life) and partner effects (effect of one's own transition readiness on the partner's quality of life).

DESIGN

A multi-centre cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

The study was conducted in two paediatric hospitals in China from October 2018-August 2019. We used a researcher-designed questionnaire to collect demographic and clinical characteristics. Furthermore, we used four questionnaires assessing transition readiness and quality of life in child and parent respectively to collect data from 370 child-parent dyads. Structural equation modelling was applied to estimate the effect of actor-partner interdependence models.

RESULTS

The total score of transition readiness had two actor effects on total child and parent quality of life controlling for age (β_children  = 3.335, p = .032 and β_parents  = 8.952, p < .001), while only one actor effect controlling for gender (β_parents  = 8.891, p < .001). Specific transition readiness dimensions had different partner effects on different domains of children and parents' quality of life. Moreover, younger children and fathers had a better quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Our study verified inherently interpersonal relationship that transition readiness appeared to influence quality of life in child-parent dyads with long-term conditions.

IMPACT

This study was the first to verify mutual influence of transition readiness and quality of life in child-parent dyad using actor-partner interdependence model. Nurses who design the transition promoting programs should consider the effective communication between healthcare provider and child-parent dyads and support parents' involvement to improve shared understanding about managing child's condition, especially for older children and mothers.

Experiences of Mothers Facing the Prognosis of Their Children with Complex Congenital Heart Disease

Mothers of children with complex congenital heart disease face unique challenges and emotional burdens, while their children go through physical and psychological difficulties during disease progression. In this study, we aimed to explore the in-depth experiences and feelings of mothers facing the prognosis of their children with complex congenital heart disease that was surgically corrected. This is a descriptive qualitative study. We conducted semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 12 mothers of children with complex congenital heart disease at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The interview data were analyzed by content analysis. Participants were mothers aged between 40–58 years whose children were diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease which was surgically corrected. Based on the content analysis, the mothers’ experiences and feelings were categorized as immense suffering and adapting to a new life. Under the main categories, the concepts included feeling of abandonment, anxiety with potentially losing their children, having hope, seeking reassurance, being encouraged, and trying to embrace the situation. Mothers who cared for their children with complex congenital heart disease expressed emotions that changed sequentially alongside physical and psychosocial changes in the children. The results of this study are valuable for understanding the experiences and emotions of mothers facing the prognosis of their children with complex congenital heart disease in order to aid in the development of programs that support these mothers.

The Effects of Illness Cognition on Resilience and Quality of Life in Korean Adolescents and Young Adults with Leukemia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of illness cognition on resilience and quality of life (QOL) in adolescents with leukemia. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design. The study was conducted at a hospital in Seoul, Korea. The target population of this study was 72 adolescents and young adults (AYA) who received follow-up visit for leukemia. Participants completed measures of their resilience, illness cognition (i.e., helplessness, acceptance, and perceived benefits), and QOL. The correlation between the study variables was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, while the impacts on resilience and QOL were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Acceptance, which is a subcategory of illness cognition, was associated with resilience and QOL of AYA leukemia survivors. After acceptance was included in model 2 using the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the increased explanatory powers of resilience and QOL were 23% and 33%, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that acceptance, which is a subcategory of illness cognition, may be an important factor for resilience and QOL in AYA leukemia survivors.

The adaptation process of mothers raising a child with complex congenital heart disease

Mothers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) tend to be concerned about their child's normal life. The majority of these mothers tend to experience negative psychological problems. In this study, the adaptation process of mothers raising a child with complex CHD was investigated based on the sociocultural context of Korea. The data collection was conducted by in-depth interviews and theoretical sampling was performed until the data were saturated. The collected data were analyzed using continuous theoretical comparisons. The results of the present study showed that the core category in the mothers' adaptation process was 'anxiety regarding the future', and the mothers' adaptation process consisted of the impact phase, standing against phase, and accepting phase. In the impact phase, the participants emotionally fluctuated between 'feelings of abandonment' and 'entertaining hope'. In the standing against phase, participants tended to dedicate everything to child-rearing while being affected by 'being encouraged by support' and 'being frustrated by tasks beyond their limits'. In the accepting phase, the subjects attempted to 'accept the child as is', 'resist hard feelings', and 'share hope'. Health-care providers need to develop programs that include information regarding CHD, how to care for a child with CHD, and effective child-rearing behaviors.

Quality of life and sexual well-being in patients with a Fontan circulation: An explorative pilot study with a mixed method design

OBJECTIVE

To get an impression of the quality of life (QOL) and sexual well-being in the Fontan population, and to generate hypotheses for future research.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional pilot study, questionnaires regarding health-related QOL, sexual function and fertility/pregnancy were completed by 21 patients with a Fontan circulation >16 years old, followed at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in 8 patients.

RESULTS

Fontan patients scored significantly lower on general health than their healthy peers (t(19)=-3.0, P = .008), whereas their scores on other QOL domains and sexual well-being were comparable to normal values. During childhood, most patients experienced physical limitations and the feeling of being an outsider, and frequently faced bullying. Regarding sexual well-being, large interindividual differences were noted. Four interviewed patients (25-30 years) reported a good sexual well-being, whereas the other interviewed patients (33-47 years) reported erectile dysfunction, low self-esteem and avoidance of sexual intercourse. Both the QOL domains mental health and role restrictions due to emotional problems were associated with female avoidance (P = .083, respectively, P = .089) and dyspareunia (P = ns respectively P = .094). In males, role restrictions due to physical problems and health change were related to sexual dissatisfaction (P = .056) respectively nonsensuality (P = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, Fontan patients have a relatively preserved quality of life and sexual wellbeing but face more social isolation and bullying during childhood/adolescence than their healthy peers. Sexual problems were mainly associated with physical limitations in males and with psychosocial limitations in females. Finally, sexual dysfunction was more common in older Fontan patients, and future research has to clarify whether progressive attrition of the Fontan circulation affects the patients' QOL and sexual well-being.

Children's experiences of congenital heart disease: a systematic review of qualitative studies

We aimed to describe the experiences of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Electronic databases were searched until August 2016. Qualitative studies of children's perspectives on CHD were included. Data was extracted using thematic synthesis. From 44 studies from 12 countries involving 995 children, we identified 6 themes: disrupting normality (denying the diagnosis, oscillating between sickness and health, destabilizing the family dynamic), powerlessness in deteriorating health (preoccupation with impending mortality, vulnerability to catastrophic complications, exhaustion from medical testing), enduring medical ordeals (traumatized by invasive procedures, disappointed by treatment failure, displaced by transition, valuing empathy and continuity in care, overcoming uncertainty with information), warring with the body (losing stamina, distressing inability to participate in sport, distorted body image, testing the limits), hampering potential and goals (feeling disabled, unfair judgment and exclusion, difficulties with academic achievement, limiting attainment and maintenance of life milestones), and establishing one's own pace (demarcating disease from life, determination to survive, taking limitations in their stride, embracing the positives, finding personal enrichment, relying on social or spiritual support).

CONCLUSION

Children with CHD feel vulnerable and burdened by debilitating physical symptoms, unpredictable complications, and discrimination. Clinicians may support patients by sharing recognition of these profound psychosocial consequences. What is Known: • CHD is associated with difficulties in learning and attention, school absenteeism, decreased endurance, poor body image, and peer socialization • What is lesser known is how young patients cope with the symptoms, prognostic uncertainty, and treatment burden What is New: • We found that children are challenged by lifestyle restrictions, fear of invasive procedures, impaired body image, discrimination, and uncertainty about the future. Feelings of disempowerment are intensified by the unpredictability of disease progression • Thus, strategies to improve outcomes include improved patient education on disease and lifestyle management and partnership with school teachers and counselors for unique psychosocial support.

A Qualitative Assessment of Adolescent Girls' Perception of Living with Congenital Heart Disease: Focusing on Future Pregnancies and Childbirth

PURPOSE

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth anomaly in Japan, occurring in approximately 10.6 of every 1,000 live births. Advancements in medical and surgical care have increased births by women diagnosed with CHD. The study's purpose was to examine the perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth among adolescent girls with CHD.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using a modified grounded-theory approach.

RESULTS

Three categories and 16 subcategories were extracted. Adolescent girls with CHD reported feelings of distress and anxiety while struggling with their disease, and feared how their disease might negatively influence their future pregnancy. These concerns were related to a desire to become familiar with CHD. The girls also explored how their disease would be managed during pregnancy and childbirth. Overall, these perceptions were influenced by the girls' acceptance of their disease, and support from family, friends, and healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare professionals might assess adolescent girls' awareness of their disease before discussing pregnancy and childbirth risks. To encourage them to understand and cope with their disease, healthcare professionals might provide interventions tailored to the timing, stage, and degree of pregnancy and childbirth awareness. This could allow safer life planning, especially concerning pregnancy and childbirth decisions.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

To address adolescent girls' needs, healthcare professionals should continuously assess their awareness of pregnancy and childbirth as well as their psychological status, alongside CHD issues.

School-related adjustment in children and adolescents with CHD

Advancements in medical and surgical treatment have increased the life expectancy of patients with CHD. Many patients with CHD, however, struggle with the medical, psychosocial, and behavioural challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Specifically, the environmental and lifestyle challenges in school are very important factors that affect children and adolescents with CHD. This study aimed to evaluate school-related adjustments depending on school level and disclosure of disease in children and adolescents with CHD. This was a descriptive and exploratory study with 205 children and adolescents, aged 7-18 years, who were recruited from two congenital heart clinics from 5 January to 27 February, 2015. Data were analysed using the Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and a univariate general linear model. School-related adjustment scores were significantly different according to school level and disclosure of disease (p<0.001) when age, religion, experience being bullied, and parents' educational levels were assigned as covariates. The school-related adjustment score of patients who did not disclose their disease dropped significantly in high school. This indicated that it is important for healthcare providers to plan developmentally appropriate educational transition programmes for middle-school students with CHD in order for students to prepare themselves before entering high school.

Peer Attachment, Perceived Parenting Style, Self-concept, and School Adjustments in Adolescents with Chronic Illness

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify how peer attachment and parenting style differentially affect self-concept and school adjustment in adolescents with and without chronic illness.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using multiple group analysis on the Korean panel data was used. A nationwide stratified multistage cluster sampling method was used and the survey was conducted in 2013 on 2,092 first-year middle school students in Korea. We used standardized instruments by the National Youth Policy Institute to measure peer attachment, parenting style, self-concept, and school adjustment. Multiple-group structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the difference of relations for peer attachment, parenting style, self-concept, and school adjustment variable between adolescents with chronic illness and those without chronic illness.

RESULTS

The model fit of a multiple-group structural equation modeling was good. The difference of the path from negative parenting style to self-concept between the two groups was significant, and a significant between-group difference in the overall path was found. This indicated that self-concept in adolescents with chronic illness was more negatively affected by negative parenting style than in adolescents without chronic illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare providers can promote the process of school adjustment in several ways, such as discussing this issue directly with adolescent patients, along with their parents and peers, examining how the organization and content of the treatment can be modified according to the adolescents' school life.