Quality of Life Among Parents of Children with Heart Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Arafa Mostafa A, Zaher Salah R, El-Dowaty Amira A, Moneeb Dalia E
Primary Institution: High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Hypothesis
To describe the Health related quality of life (HRQOL) of parents whose children are suffering from heart diseases and to identify the most important factors that could affect it.
Conclusion
The quality of life of parents of children with heart diseases was significantly impaired and influenced by several factors related to the clinical status of the child.
Supporting Evidence
- Parents of children with heart diseases reported significantly poorer HRQOL in all SF-36 subscales except for pain.
- The most significant differences were in General Health, Vitality, and role limitation physical.
- Factors affecting HRQOL included severity of illness, type of heart disease, age of child, financial situation, and presence of comorbid conditions.
- More than 90% of parents expressed concern about future familial, financial, and health adjustment problems.
Takeaway
Parents of children with heart disease feel much more stressed and less happy than parents of kids with minor illnesses.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study comparing 400 parents of children with heart diseases to 400 parents of children with minor illnesses, using the SF-36 questionnaire.
Potential Biases
The comparison group of parents with minor illnesses may not be homogenous, affecting the validity of comparisons.
Limitations
The study relied on parents' subjective assessments of their quality of life, which may not be entirely accurate.
Participant Demographics
Parents aged 20-58 years, predominantly married housewives, with a majority having lower to middle socioeconomic status.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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