Innovations in the Family Care of Children with Chronic Illnesses

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nursing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 1321

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Maternal-Infant and Psychiatric Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
Interests: pediatric chronic illnesses; pediatric nursing; pediatric oncology nursing; symptom management

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Guest Editor
Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing, Nursing Faculty, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, RJ, Brazil
Interests: children and adolescent with chronic condition; family of children and adolescent with chronic condition, quality of life, symptom assessment and management; fatigue; sleep patterns; pain; pediatric nursing; family nursing

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Guest Editor
Office of Nursing Research and Innovation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
Interests: pediatric chronic illnesses; pediatric nursing; pediatric oncology nursing; symptom management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a special issue of Children and cordially invite you to contribute your scholarly papers. This Special Issue will focus on the critical theme of “Innovations in the Family Care of Children with Chronic Illnesses,” which merits deeper exploration and understanding in pediatric healthcare.

The impact of chronic illness on children is profound, not only affecting the child but also the entire family unit. Given this background, this Special Issue aims to shed light on new methods, strategies, or research findings related to the care provided by families for children with chronic illnesses. We believe your contributions can greatly enhance our understanding of these complex interactions.

Your research and insights can help shape interventions and support mechanisms for families navigating these challenges. We are particularly interested in empirical studies encompassing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods methodologies, as well as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, and innovative approaches that delve into the psychological, social, and emotional aspects of family functioning in pediatric chronic illness.

Submission to this Special Issue represents a unique opportunity to impact a wide audience, including healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers. Join us in contributing to a body of knowledge that could make a significant difference in the lives of children with chronic illnesses and their families.

Dr. Fernanda Machado Silva-Rodrigues
Dr. Michelle Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes
Dr. Cynthia A. Danford
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • children
  • pediatric chronic illness
  • family-centered care
  • pediatric health care innovation
  • family care in pediatrics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 734 KiB  
Article
Usability Evaluation of the Revised Color Me Healthy Symptom Assessment App: Perspectives of Children and Parents
by Lauri Linder, Haley Utendorfer, Brianna Oliveros, Sydney Gilliland, Victoria L. Tiase and Roger Altizer
Children 2024, 11(10), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101215 - 4 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Background: The Color Me Healthy symptom reporting app was co-designed with school-age children with cancer, their parents, and clinicians. Preliminary studies demonstrated its feasibility and acceptability; however, children and parents identified the need for additional refinements. Methods: Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model [...] Read more.
Background: The Color Me Healthy symptom reporting app was co-designed with school-age children with cancer, their parents, and clinicians. Preliminary studies demonstrated its feasibility and acceptability; however, children and parents identified the need for additional refinements. Methods: Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and principles of user-centered design, this study supported refinements to the Color Me Healthy user interface and evaluation of its usability. As the programming team completed builds of the app, school-age children with cancer and their parents participated in cognitive walkthrough usability evaluations and qualitative interviews. Usability logs documented the completion of key tasks related to reporting pain and review of child-reported data. Parents completed the Technology Acceptance Model Perceived Usefulness Scale (TAM-PUS). Interview responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Fourteen children (median age 8.5 years; range 6–12) and 14 parents (median age 38.5 years; range 34–49) participated in one of three usability evaluation cycles. After the third cycle, children and parents navigated the app and completed key tasks independently. Median TAM-PUS scores were 6 (range 6–8), indicating high perceived usefulness. Qualitative analyses indicated that children regarded the app as easy and fun to use. Parents emphasized the app’s developmental relevance for their child and for themselves as the child’s caregiver. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the revised Color Me Healthy app. Optimizing the usability of the Color Me Healthy app with attention to the user needs of children and parents positions the app for wider-scale clinical implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Family Care of Children with Chronic Illnesses)
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Review

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31 pages, 947 KiB  
Review
Navigating the Challenges and Resilience in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents with Chronic Diseases: A Scoping Review
by Giovanna Cristina Machado-Kayzuka, Isabela Helena Seccarecio, Milena de Lucca, Rhyquelle Rhibna Neris, Ana Carolina Andrade Biaggi Leite, Willyane de Andrade Alvarenga, Paula Saud De Bortoli, Manoela Henriques Pinto and Lucila Castanheira Nascimento
Children 2024, 11(9), 1047; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11091047 - 27 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of adolescents worldwide, especially those living with chronic diseases. This study aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives of adolescents with chronic diseases. Methods: This is a scoping [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of adolescents worldwide, especially those living with chronic diseases. This study aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives of adolescents with chronic diseases. Methods: This is a scoping review that follows the guidelines proposed by JBI. Eligibility criteria include articles focusing on adolescents aged 10 to 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of chronic diseases. Searches were performed in PUBMED, LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, grey literature, and manual searches in March 2024. Results: This review is composed of 35 articles. The analysis revealed two main categories: (1) Adolescents facing social isolation, school closure, and new family interactions, striving to reinvent themselves, and (2) Chasing the best decision: following up the chronic disease while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. These categories encompass subcategories highlighting changes in social and family interactions and lifestyle habits. The findings suggest a multifaceted interaction of factors influencing adolescents’ well-being, including improved family bonding, heightened disease management, and increased stress and strains on resources. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up and social inclusion efforts for adolescents with chronic diseases and their families, addressing their unique needs during public health crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in the Family Care of Children with Chronic Illnesses)
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