We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
An Examination of Quality of Life of Children and Parents During Their Tele-HomeCare Experience.
- Authors
Nancy L. Young; Jennifer Bennie; Wendy Barden; Paul T. Dick
- Abstract
Video-conferencing and remote vital signs monitors were used to provide Tele-HomeCare(THC) to children with complex healthcare needs. This paper reports the effects of THC onthe health-related quality of life (QoL) of children and their parents, and the Impact on Families(IoF). A total of 63 children and their parents were enrolled in a THC trial in which theyreceived traditional home care services and up to 6 weeks of THC. A reference group of 16children and their parents was also recruited and received only traditional home care services.All parents completed QoL questionnaires for both their child and themselves, and the IoFscale. Complete data were available for 50 THC participants: 34 of these had no readmissionsand 16 experienced multiple admissions. The reference group contained 10 participants whoreceived standard community care. All three groups experienced similar improvements inquality of life at the time of their discharge to home after which their QoL remained stable.There were no significant differences in the IoF scores. THC is an effective clinical servicethat supports the transition from hospital to home at a time when the children continued tohave complex care needs. Furthermore, improvements in QoL were observed for these familiesthat were similar to those of families whose children had less intensive care needs. Moreover,the improvements were sustained beyond the termination of the THC service and werenot associated with additional burden on families.
- Subjects
CHILD care; QUALITY of life; HOME care services; VIDEOCONFERENCING
- Publication
Telemedicine & e-Health, 2006, Vol 12, Issue 6, p663
- ISSN
1530-5627
- Publication type
Article