Predictive model of hospitalization for children and adolescents with chronic disease

Health-illness transition processes in children with complex chronic conditions and their parents: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of complex chronic conditions (CCC), which cause serious limitations and require specialized care, is increasing. The diagnosis of a CCC is a health-illness transition for children and their parents, representing a long-term change leading to greater vulnerability. Knowing the characteristics of these transitional processes is important for promoting safe transitions in this population. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on health-illness transition processes in children with complex chronic conditions and their parents in the context of healthcare.

METHODS

Six databases were searched for studies focusing on children aged 0-21 years with CCC and their parents experiencing health-illness transition processes, particularly concerning adaptation to illness and continuity of care, in the context of healthcare. Studies within this scope carried out between 2013 and 2023 and written in Portuguese or English were identified. The articles were selected using the PRISMA methodology. The data were extracted to an instrument and then presented with a synthesizing approach supporting the interpretation of the results.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight methodologically broad but predominantly qualitative articles were included in this review. Children with CCC have specific needs associated with complex and dynamic health-illness transitions with a multiple influence in their daily lives. Several facilitating factors (p.e. positive communication and a supportive therapeutic relationship with parents and professionals, as well as involvement in a collaborative approach to care), inhibiting factors (p.e. the complexity of the disease and therapeutic regime, as well as the inefficient organization and coordination of teams) and both positive (p.e. well-being and better quality of life) and negative response patterns (p.e. negative feelings about the chronic illness) were identified. Some interventions to support the transitional process also emerged from the literature. Pediatric palliative care is seen as a good practice and an integrative approach for these children and families.

CONCLUSION

Health professionals play a fundamental role in supporting the transitional process and promoting positive response patterns. More significant investment is needed at the clinical and academic levels regarding production and dissemination of knowledge in this area to ensure the awareness of children with CCC and that their needs are fully enhanced.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QRZC8 .

Hospitalizations in Brazil according to National Health Survey estimates, 2013 and 2019

OBJECTIVE

To compare the profile and prevalence of hospitalizations in Brazil based on estimates from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2013 and 2019.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study that used data from the 2013 PNS and the 2019 PNS. The outcome was having been hospitalized for 24 hours or more in the last 12 months. We calculated the proportion of the population in different categories of age group, presence or absence of chronic diseases, and perception of health status. We estimated the total number of hospitalizations and the proportion corresponding to each category of age group, chronic disease, and perceived health status. We calculated the prevalence of hospitalization according to geographic, socioeconomic, and health conditions. We compared the estimates of two editions of the PNS using Student's t-test for independent samples. We considered significant differences when the p-value was less than 0.01. And finally, we compared hospitalization estimates with administrative data to assess data consistency.

RESULTS

We observed that the proportion of chronically ill people in the population increased from 15.04% to 31.48%. This group was responsible for 36.76% of the total number of hospitalizations in 2013 and 57.61% in 2019. The prevalence of hospitalizations increased significantly between the two surveys and the increases were higher in the Southeast region and among people who have private health insurance. A discrepancy was found between administrative data and survey estimates. Obstetric hospitalizations and health insurance hospitalizations were underestimated.

CONCLUSION

There was an increase in overall hospitalization rates in the period between the PNS 2013 and PNS 2019, especially among people with better access to health services. The hospitalization profile also changed-in the 2013 PNS, hospitalizations of people without chronic diseases predominated. This was reversed in PNS 2019.