Chronic Disorders In Children And Adolescents

There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of certain chronic disorders among children and adolescents. For example, health experts warn of an epidemic of diabetes mellitus due to an increase in the sedentary life style and poor nutrition of children. There are many questions still to be addressed in the study of chronic disorders among children and adolescents.What are the risk factors associated with chronic diseases in these populations?What are the major complications that contribute to disability and increased health care utilization and costs? What impact do chronic diseases have on the psychosocial development? What are the most effective diagnostic, treatment,and rehabilitation strategies? How can patient education and self-management activities be improved to help children and adolescents improve compliance with treatment regimens? How can parents and other family members become more involved in assessment and management? In what ways can peers, schools,religious institutions, and other organizations help children and adolescent scope with their chronic disease? This book addresses these questions by focusing on how eight chronic disorders affect health care utilization, costs, coping, and health outcomes in children and adolescents.Research studies are used to illustrate wide range of topics from the epidemiology of chronic diseases in children and adolescents, health care utilization and costs, to treatment outcomes, disability, and family processes.Case studies from a clinical psychologist’s private practice are used to clarify major psychosocial issues underlying chronic diseases in these populations. Chapter One analyzes the epidemiology of eight chronic conditions in children and adolescents. Data on the prevalence of diseases and associated risk factors are stressed in this chapter. Health care planners can use these analyses to improve primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention through more effective uses of health care resources. Chapter Two examines the latest information on health care utilization and costs for children and adolescents that can point to a more efficient means of reducing the rising health care costs associated with the treatment of chronic diseases. In the remaining chapters, the eight chronic diseases are evaluated in terms of five major issues. First, the latest trends in complications associated with each chronic condition are explored.Second, the impact of each disease on disability and psychosocial development of children and adolescents are analyzed. Third, recent research findings on diagnosis,treatment, and rehabilitation strategies are discussed. Fourth, new trends in patient education and self-management are presented. Fifth, each chapter will assess the role of family, peers, schools, and other organizations in helping children and adolescents cope with their chronic disorders. Dr. Mark L. Goldstein, a clinical psychologist, reviews the literature and uses composite case studies from his practice to illustrate the impact of these trends on how children and adolescents manage chronic disease. The information in this book will be relevant to a wide range of professionals and students in the fields of pediatrics, medicine, nursing, public health, mental health, social work,education, health administration, health policy, and social sciences.

Management of chronic illness in children and adolescents often is a multifaceted challenge that requires the attention and expertise of individuals from a variety of disciplines that include psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine. The aim of this book is to provide readers with a practical overview of the definitions, characteristics, theories and models, diagnostic and treatment indications, and relevant aspects and methods of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for chronic illness in children and adolescents. Although treatments and research for chronic conditions are reviewed in general, particular attention is directed at asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, and sickle cell disease due to the high incidence of these chronic diseases among children and adolescents. Case vignettes and suggestions for further reading are provided for the interested reader.

Management of chronic illness in children and adolescents often is a multifaceted challenge that requires the attention and expertise of individuals from a variety of disciplines that include psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine. The aim of this book is to provide readers with a practical overview of the definitions, characteristics, theories and models, diagnostic and treatment indications, and relevant aspects and methods of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for chronic illness in children and adolescents. Although treatments and research for chronic conditions are reviewed in general, particular attention is directed at asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, and sickle cell disease due to the high incidence of these chronic diseases among children and adolescents. Case vignettes and suggestions for further reading are provided for the interested reader.

Praise for Helping Children and Adolescents with Chronic and Serious Medical Conditions A Strengths-Based Approach "Helping Children and Adolescents with Chronic and Serious Medical Conditionsprovides a wellspring of knowledge, from the theoretical to the clinical. The many vignettes and transcriptions immeasurably enrich the reader's understanding of the interventions and their broader applicability."—Barbara M. Sourkes, PhDJohn A. Kriewall and Elizabeth A. Haehl Director of Pediatric Palliative CareLucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford An important and practical guide to providing compassionate care and support to medically compromised children and their families Helping Children and Adolescents with Chronic and Serious Medical Conditions: A Strengths-Based Approach presents practical guidance on integrating the latest research into evidence-based practice to ensure the best client care. Edited by a top scholar in the field, this essential resource contains contributions from renowned specialists in various helping fields. Utilizing an inter-professional perspective, helping professionals will draw from the experiences and expertise of a wide range of medical professionals, providing a "window" into their roles, responsibilities, and challenges, offering the most effective approaches for working with this special population of children and their families. Equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to encourage children's resilience and help them build their emotional strengths, this book uses a caring yet authoritative tone and discusses: The emotional impact of illness on the individual and the family Child-life practice in hospitals School-based interventions for children and adolescents with medical conditions How to meet the spiritual as well as emotional needs of children with chronic and life-threatening illness With thoughtful coverage of positive helping approaches that encourage family and individual strengths, Helping Children and Adolescents with Chronic and Serious Medical Conditions: A Strengths-Based Approach is an invaluable resource for social workers, teachers, school counselors, and other mental health and medical professionals who work with medically challenged children and adolescents in every setting.

How can we measure the quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic disease? Major progress in the diagnosis and treatment of severe and chronic disease has led to an increased number of children and their families having to adapt and cope with the impact of disease, survival, and the cost of treatment. Health professionals have responded to this by developing a diversity of instruments for measuring quality of life for use in paediatrics, psychology and public health. This book introduces the reader to the emerging field of quality of life assessment and provides a comprehensive overview of the conceptual and methodological issues concerning quality of life in child and adolescent illness. Particular emphasis is provided on current efforts to measure the impact of specific chronic conditions on different domains of child functioning. Future directions are outlined for the development of appropriate instruments for measuring quality of life in children and adolescents. Quality of Life in Child and Adolescent Illness is intended for psychologists, paediatricians, paediatric nurses, child psychiatrists, public health professionals, researchers and other interested readers from the undergraduate to the working professional.

This book provides a research-based discussion of common childhood chronic illnesses and their etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management. Along with information on specific diseases and conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and arthritis, the book includes chapters on psychosocial management, focusing on family coping, stress on the child, and adherence. This is a rich resource for nurses and other health practitioners looking for an overview of children's chronic illness in an evidence-based context.

This book offers an overview of the critical issues in the assessment and treatment of children with chronic illnesses. Case vignettes, a literature review and the authors' clinical perspectives combine to inform about both the medical realities of chronic disease and the unique effects on psychological and developmental processes. There are sections on diabetes mellitus, asthma, cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, childhood cancers and paediatric AIDS. Developmental issues are considered, as are key issues of a case study approach.