Objective and Personalized Assessment of Disease-Related Knowledge Among Patients With Congenital Heart Disease - Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for Congenital Heart Disease

Evaluation of a nurse-led multi-component transition program for adolescents with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of the transition program for adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) 'Transition With a Heart' (TWAH) on disease-related knowledge, quality of life (QoL), transition experiences, and gaps in follow-up.

METHODS

A study with pre-posttest and control group (post-test) using consecutive sampling, including adolescents with moderate to severely complex CHD, without intellectual disability, aged≥ 12 y, and parents. After weighting, t-tests were performed. A multivariable regression analysis explored the outcomes' determinants.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, 28 adolescents and 25 parents were included, and 53 adolescents and 18 parents as controls. Adolescents' knowledge significantly increased after completing TWAH (from 59.8% to 75.7%;p < 0.01). Their knowledge was positively correlated with TWAH (β = +13.3;p < 0.01). Adolescents' transition experiences were also positively related to TWAH (general experience: β = +5.5;p < 0.01; transfer satisfaction: β = +0.8; p < 0.01). Adolescents' QoL was mainly determined by CHD complexity and not by TWAH. No one showed gaps in follow-up. TWAH was not associated with parents' transition experiences.

CONCLUSION

Implementing TWAH substantially improved adolescents' disease-related knowledge and transition experiences.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The results regarding transition experiences need to be confirmed by further research. The TWAH design with the person-tailored educational program, skills training, and the transition coordinator can be used in settings with other chronic diseases.

The association between the social adaptive skills of school-aged children with congenital heart disease and mothers' decision factors for providing disease explanations in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Purpose

This study aimed to clarify the factors related to mothers' decisions to provide disease explanations to their children, investigate the associations between those factors and social adaptive skills, and examine support relative to children's growth and development.

Methods

Data were collected from anonymous, self-administered questionnaires answered by 71 mothers of outpatient school-aged children with congenital heart disease. The questionnaire items included characteristics of mothers and children, decision factors for providing disease explanations, and children's social adaptive skills (Asahide-Shiki social adaptive skills test). Factor analysis was performed on the decision factors, and multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the identified factors and each social adaptive skill.

Results

The decision factors for providing disease explanations were the mother's explanation ability, the receptive capability of the child, and the child's interest and literacy regarding the explanation. Multiple regression analysis showed that language and social life skills were significantly associated with the child's receptive capability, and language and daily life skills were significantly associated with the child's interest and literacy regarding the explanation.

Conclusion

Improving children's language, social life, and daily life skills may enhance their receptive capability and literacy regarding explanations of their disease.