Psychological Functioning of Children and Adolescents With CHD andTheir Parents, An Intervention Based Study

Summary

Almost 1% of infants are born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), an umbrella term referring to a range of anomalies in the heart's structure that are present at birth. Owing to significant medical advances, it is now estimated that more than 90% of persons born with CHD will reach adulthood. Children with CHD and their families' mental health outcomes need for psychosocial care. This study will intend to improve the psychological functioning of children, adolescents with CHD and their parents. The research will comprise of two major studies. The sample of first study will be based on a Cohort (From April 2021 to October 2021) of children, adolescent and their parents. Participants will be assessed for their psychological functioning and health related quality of life using Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire, pedsQL 3.0 cardiac module , Parental Stress Index , and 36-Item Short Form Survey. It is hypothesized that parental psychological functioning will mediate the relationship between psychological functioning of children and adolescent with CHD and their health related quality of life. It is also hypothesized that emotional behavioral issues of children and adolescents will moderate the link between parental psychological functioning and their quality of life. Illness parameters and sociodemographic correlates will serve as covariates in the study. This study will provide a baseline for the second study that is expected to use a randomized control trial of an intervention program based on training workshops derived from CHIP for the reduction in parental distress, emotional behavioral problem and improvement in health related quality of life among children, adolescent with CHD and their parents. The pretest-posttest design will be used. The randomized control trial will be conducted as per Consort Guidelines. A sub sample will be selected from the initial study using purposive sampling. Intervention study will include a subsample of CHD population (60 children and adolescents each) and their parents using purposive sampling technique. The participants will be randomly assigned to experimental \& control groups. Illness related and demographic parameters will be distributed equally in both groups for establishing control. The intervention will be administered to experimental group only, while control group will receive regular treatment. Results of Pretest and posttest measures will be statistically analyzed. The designed intervention program (using problem solving therapy, psycho-education and Parenting the child with CHD training) will lower the level of parental stress in parents and emotional behavioral issues in CHD population. It will further increase the level of health related quality of life among children and adolescent with CHD and their parents. The research will incorporate psychosocial care with CHD population along with their regular treatment and thus improve their future health related outcomes in Pakistan.

Conditions

• Congenital Heart Disease
• Psychological Intervention
• Parenting
• Quality of Life
• Psychological Disturbance

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

problem prevention therapy with CHD

The psychological exercises are based on the evidence-based Fun FRIENDS protocol (Burhanar, 2016) for reducing emotional behavioral issues. Separate workshop of adolescents will be designed based on transition in child cardiology to adult cardiology(Moons et al., 2009) . A cardiologist and psychologist will psycho educate them about self-care, needs of transition period and strength and strains about further life.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Government College University Faisalabad

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dr. Rabia Khawar, PhD · Department of Applied Psychology, GC University Faisalabad

• Asma Riaz Hamdani, PhD Scholar · Department of Applied Psychology, GC University Faisalabad

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-05-07

Primary Completion

2022-03-31

Completion

2022-07-31

Countries

• Pakistan