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- Title
Children with mental versus physical health problems: differences in perceived disease severity, health care service utilization and parental health literacy.
- Authors
Dey, Michelle; Wang, Jen; Jorm, Anthony; Mohler-Kuo, Meichun
- Abstract
Purpose: To compare children with mental and physical health problems regarding (1) perceived disease severity; (2) the impact of their condition on their families; (3) their utilization of health care services (including satisfaction with care); and (4) parents' health literacy about their child's condition and its treatment. Furthermore, we examined whether parents' health literacy differs between types of mental health condition. Methods: Parental reports about their 9- to 14-year-old children with mental ( n = 785) or physical health problems ( n = 475) were analyzed from the population-based National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Switzerland. Results: Mental health problems were perceived as being more severe ( p < 0.001) and exerting a larger impact upon the family (e.g., financial impact) than physical health problems. Furthermore, fewer parents of children with a mental health problem mentioned having a particular person or place to contact if they needed information or advice regarding the child's condition ( p = 0.004) and were satisfied with the health care services their child received ( p < 0.001). The odds of low health literacy was higher among parents with children suffering from mental health problems vs. parents of children with physical health problems (OR in the adjusted model = 1.92; 95 % CI 1.47-2.50; p < 0.001); this finding held generally for mental health problem (although only a trend was observable for internalizing problems). Conclusions: The large impact of children's mental health conditions on themselves and their families might be reduced by adapting the provision of health care and by increasing parents' health literacy.
- Subjects
CHILD psychology; MENTAL health; HEALTH literacy; CHILD health services; MEDICAL informatics; PEDIATRIC therapy; MEDICAL care
- Publication
Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2015, Vol 50, Issue 3, p407
- ISSN
0933-7954
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00127-014-0944-7