Introduction

Descriptive study compared adolescent mothers’ subjective perceptions of their children’s development with objective developmental assessments.

Method

Volunteer sample of mother/child pairs was recruited from urban high school. Thirty-three mothers completed Ages and Stages Questionnaire (A&SQ). Children were administered Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID).

Results

On the BSID, group mean scores all fell within the normal range. However, almost 20% of individual children had one or more delays. Almost 73% of mothers accurately assessed their children’s development on the (A&SQ) when compared to BSID results. Eighteen percent of mothers suspected delays when there were none objectively identified. A single mother identified delay in a different domain than that identified on the BSID.

Discussion

Findings that almost 20% of these children had developmental delays support other research that children of adolescent mothers are at risk for delays. Findings that teen mothers varied in their abilities to assess their children’s development reinforce the need for education of teen mothers about child development. Further study needed to determine the best models of this education in school and community settings.

Objective

To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Design, Setting, and Participants

The PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Scales, a multidimensional self-report instrument that has been shown to be valid and reliable for use in children and adolescents with chronic illness, consists of 23 items that assess physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Questionnaires were administered to 124 children and adolescents (aged 8-18 years, child self-report) with SCD (100 sickle cell anemia [SS], 24 sickle beta zero thalassemia [Sβ0thal]) and their parents (parent-proxy report). Summary scores for children’s and parents’ ratings of overall HRQOL and psychosocial health and subscale scores for physical, emotional, social, and school functioning were compared to published data for healthy children. Both summary and subscale scores for children with SCD were also compared to those of their parents.

Results

Children with SCD and their parents rated overall HRQOL and all sub-domains of HRQOL lower than ratings of healthy children and their parents (p < .001). Children with SCD rated their own HRQOL significantly better than their parents for overall HRQOL and all sub-domains (p <.001) except emotional functioning (p = .06).

Conclusions

Children with SCD and their parents perceived overall HRQOL and all HRQOL sub-domains to be lower than scores reported in healthy children. Therefore, successful therapeutic efforts to improve HRQOL could represent important advances in the health of children with SCD.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to describe components of a health coaching intervention based on coping skills training delivered via telephone. This intervention was provided to urban adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), reinforcing a school-based curriculum designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent T2DM.

Method

Health coaching via telephone was provided to at-risk, urban youth enrolled in a study of an intervention to reduce risk for T2DM. Vignettes are used to describe the use of several coping skills in this high risk youth population.

Results

A variety of vignettes illustrate how telephone health coaching reinforced lifestyle changes in students by incorporating coping skills training.

Discussion

Given the benefits and the challenges of the telephone health coaching intervention, several suggestions for others who plan to use a similar method are described.

Objective

Injection site rotation is an important component of insulin administration and helpful in preventing lipodystrophy in type 1 diabetes (T1DM). We examined the number of injection/infusion sites (sites) used by youth with T1DM and their perceived barriers to using new sites for insulin.

Methods

Two hundred-one youth with T1DM completed a 24-item survey about site rotation practices and barriers to site rotation during a routine diabetes appointment.

Results

Fifteen percent of youth reported using at least four distinct sites in their rotation plan, while 22% reported using only one site. A negative correlation was found between number of sites used and the number of perceived barriers endorsed by youth on multiple daily injections. Fear of pain was the most common barrier endorsed by youth.

Conclusion

Many youth with T1DM may not adhere to an adequate site rotation plan. Regular assessment of insulin sites and counseling regarding adequate site rotation is needed when managing diabetes in youth. Relaxation and distraction may help to reduce youths’ fear of pain when rotating to new insulin sites.

The purpose of this article is to review attachment theory and relate the attachment perspective to adolescent mothers and their children. Attachment theory explains positive maternal-infant attachment as a dyadic relationship between the infant and mother that provides the infant with a secure base from which to explore the world. With respect to cognitive, social, and behavioral domains, securely attached infants tend to have more favorable long-term outcomes, while insecurely attached infants are more likely to have adverse outcomes. Adolescent parenthood can disrupt normal adolescent development, and this disruption influences development of the emotional and cognitive capacities necessary for maternal behaviors that foster secure attachment. However, it appears that if specialized supports are in place to facilitate the process of developing attachment, infants of adolescent mothers can obtain higher rates of secure attachment than normative samples in this population.

Introduction

To explore perceptions of psychosocial adaptations in parenting young children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) from diagnosis through childhood.

Method

Fourteen parents of eleven T1DM children diagnosed at ≤5 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Significant themes were: Diagnostic Experiences: Frustrations, fears and doubts: Parents described inadequate diagnostic experiences with pediatricians where concerns were minimized and sometimes delayed diagnosis. Although hospitalization occurred abruptly, communication with specialists was more satisfactory. Adapting to Diabetes: Parents described isolation in caring for their child’s T1DM. Family and friends had minimal understanding of T1DM care. Support groups lessened mothers’ isolation, but fathers were less positive about this experience. Parental adaptation was more effective when responsibility for diabetes decision-making was shared. All parents reported never mastering diabetes management. Negotiating Developmental Transitions: Normative childhood events were stressful requiring that parents balance concerns to foster child participation.

Conclusions

Pediatric providers can improve diagnostic and treatment experiences for parents of T1DM children by recognizing feelings of isolation and lack of mastery, providing attentive communication, encouraging parental teamwork, and offering ongoing anticipatory guidance.

Introduction

Pediatric asthma is accountable for a substantial use of health care services. The purpose of this study was to systemically examine the extent to which inaccurate perception of asthma symptoms is associated with the use of health care services.

Methods

This exploratory study included 126 adolescents with asthma, aged between 13–20 years. Subjects were classified as having inaccurate symptom perception (IG), well controlled, accurate symptom perception (WCA), and poorly-controlled accurate symptom perception (PCA). These groups were compared with respect to health care utilization including emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization and office visits and school absenteeism in the past 3 months.

Results

More adolescents in the inaccurate group had at least one hospitalization compared to adolescents in the PCA or WCA groups (23.1% vs. 11.1% vs. 2.6% respectively). A similar trend was seen for emergency department visits. Compared to WCA group, adolescents in the inaccurate group were nearly 9 times more likely to have been hospitalized, 3.4 times more likely to have visited an emergency department (ED), and 4 times more likely to have missed school days.

Discussion

Adolescents with inaccurate symptom perception are more likely to have hospitalizations, ED visits, and missed days from school as compared to those with accurate perceptions. The findings underscore the importance of screening for perceptual accuracy of asthma symptoms and call for interventions promoting accurate symptom assessment in adolescents with asthma to assure appropriate care.

Background

This study provides preliminary data about a parenting intervention for families of preschoolers with early ADHD/ODD symptoms carried out in two diverse primary care pediatric offices.

Method

Parents of toddlers completed behavioral screening questionnaires at well-child visits. Eligible parents participated in a 10-week parenting education group using the Incredible Years Program. Mothers completed several outcome measures at three time points - before participating in the group, immediately after the group ended, and six months thereafter. These measures assessed changes in parenting practices, parenting stress, and child symptoms. Parent and provider satisfaction were also assessed.

Results

Mothers reported improvements in parenting skills and decreases in stress. They also reported decreases in child aggression and increases in compliance. Mothers and providers reported high levels of satisfaction.

Conclusions

Results support the benefits and feasibility of providing parenting education groups to parents of toddlers in pediatric practice settings.

Introduction

Nurse practitioners have the power to detect suicide risk and prevent suicide, a problem plaguing rural areas of the United States. Suicide risk assessment can be completed using the HEADSS (Home, Education, Activities, Drug use and abuse, Sexual behavior, and Suicidality and depression) interview instrument. The purpose of this study was to determine if HEADSS is appropriate for guiding suicide risk assessment of rural adolescents.

Method

High school students in Southwestern Pennsylvania completed qualitative questions from the Child Behavior Checklist and Coping Response Inventory as part of the Intervention to Promote Mental Health in Rural Youth. Qualitative content analysis was performed.

Results

Prominent themes identified by participants included academic performance, relationships, dislikes about school, friends, death, mental health, and the future. Several minor themes concerned safety. Most known risk factors for suicide were concerns of participants.

Discussion

The expansion of HEADSS to include death and safety should be considered. The modified version—HEADDSSS— can be used to guide suicide risk assessment of youth in rural Pennsylvania, ensuring both thoroughness of assessment and safety.

Introduction

This study tested the addition of a cognitive-behavioral skill-building component called Positive Adolescent Life Skills (PALS) training to an existing intervention for urban adolescents to enhance resiliency. In previous pilot work with the existing intervention, called “Teen Club,” it was found that participants in group meetings and intensive case management reported an enhanced ability to connect with positive resources.

Method

Sixteen adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (10 boys and 6 girls) attending an urban secondary school were randomly assigned to Teen Club or Teen Club plus PALS. Boys and girls met separately in one of the two conditions for 30 weeks. The Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) subscale scores were measured at baseline and at the completion of the program.

Results

The sample consisted of 11 Black and five Hispanic teens. Between-group differences in the POSIT subscale scores were not significantly different in this small sample. Group interviews conducted at the conclusion of the intervention revealed that participants found the PALS intervention to be relevant and useful.

Discussion

Results suggest that the PALS component strengthened the existing intervention and lend preliminary support for the continuation of this combination of interventions. Future research with larger numbers is needed.

Introduction

This study examines risks for high blood pressure (BP) among undiagnosed African American (AA) mothers and daughters, because AA children are at risk for hypertension due to familial influences.

Method

This study was cross-sectional in design and included 70 AA mother and daughter participants from the Detroit metropolitan area.

Results

BP readings clinically diagnostic of hypertension were found for mothers (25.7%) and daughters (54.3%), although they were undiagnosed. Many participants with BP readings in pre-hypertension or hypertension categories were overweight or obese (mothers, 90.9%; daughters, 50.2%). Fewer underweight or normal weight mothers (25.0%) and daughters (64.3%) had BP readings indicative of hypertension. Lower diastolic BP was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) among mothers (r = −.34, p = .045). Higher systolic blood pressure was positively related to potassium consumption among daughters and total AAs (r = .55, p = .005 and r = .41, p = .003 respectively).

Discussion

Early screening for hypertension is needed to improve health among AAs. Health providers should use American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for determining hypertension in children. Research on familial and environment influences on BP among children is recommended to determine early risk for hypertension development.

Representing 1 in 6 children in the United States, Latino children incur disproportionate exposures to air pollutants, pesticides, and toxic industrial chemicals, as well as lead and mercury from candy, traditional folk remedies, religious practices, and other sources. Latino children also have higher rates of asthma, lead and mercury poisoning, behavioral and developmental disorders, and certain cancers. Concurrent exposure to multiple pollutants, pre-existing disease, poor nutrition, substandard housing, limited access to health care, and other factors related to their lower socioeconomic status increase Latino children's susceptibility to environmental contaminants. Targeted research, education, prevention and intervention efforts, and economic development initiatives are needed.

Introduction

Asthma control requires assessment of nighttime symptoms and sleep disruption. Cognitive and emotional development enables most school age children to report nocturnal problems but providers often rely only on parental report potentially limiting the comprehensiveness of their assessments and their ability to support the child’s emerging efforts at shared management of their illness. This study investigated parent-child concordance in report of nighttime respiratory symptoms, sleep disruption and quality of sleep in a sample of 9–11 year old children with asthma. Secondarily, similar concordance patterns in an equal number of dyads where the child was asthma free were examined, to illustrate the potential influence of asthma.

Method

Parents and children completed one-week diaries in their homes without confiding in one another. The probability of knowing the child’s report on a specific item if the parent’s report was known was assessed using contingency tables.

Results

Within the asthma group, parent-child reports differed significantly across all symptoms and sleep parameters. Parents most often reported fewer symptoms and awakenings and better quality of sleep than their child. Concordance rates were lowest for morning perceptions of tiredness, sleepiness and alertness in both asthma and non-asthma groups.

Discussion

Both parents and school age children with asthma need to be asked about nighttime asthma symptoms, sleep and morning perceptions when attempting to evaluate asthma control. Assessment of sleep in all children should include parent and child reports and would benefit by the addition of objective measures.

Introduction

Understanding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among Chinese American children would allow us to target individuals in this group who are at the greatest risk for developing CVD early in life. The purpose of this study is to examine cardiovascular risk factors (increased blood pressure [BP], total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoproteins, and increased body mass index [BMI]) in Chinese American children.

Method

A cross-sectional design was used. A total number of 65 children, aged 8 to 10 years, and their mothers participated in the study. Measurements of the children’s weight, height, BP, blood sample, level of physical fitness, activity level, and dietary intake were collected. Mothers completed questionnaires regarding family history of CVD and level of acculturation.

Results

A low level of physical activity and high paternal BMI were associated with higher systolic BP in the children. A low level of physical activity was also found to be a risk factor for higher LDL and systolic BP in the children. A high birth weight and lower parental acculturation level were risk factors for higher BMI in the children.

Discussion

The findings suggest that a low level of physical activity and high BMI are associated with increased risk of CVD in Chinese American children. The development of culturally appropriate programs that promote an active lifestyle and reduce weight is critical in CVD prevention in Chinese American populations.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to describe the language ability and school functioning of early adolescents with perinatal HIV/AIDS.

Method

Participants included 43 youths, 9–15 years, and their primary caregivers. Youths completed the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) and the Reading Subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT3), and were interviewed regarding their future educational aspirations and parental supervision and involvement with homework. Caregivers were interviewed regarding the child’s school achievement, parental supervision and monitoring, and educational aspirations for their child.

Results

Fifty-four percent of youths scored below average (<25th percentile) on the PPVT, and 29% scored <10th percentile; 40% scored below average (<25th percentile) on the WRAT3, and 24% scored <10th percentile. Scores were associated with parental monitoring and educational aspirations.

Discussion

Youths performed poorly on tests of verbal and reading ability, although not dissimilar to other samples of inner-city youths. Future research should attempt to isolate the impact of HIV disease on intellectual and school functioning of HIV+ youths.

Introduction

Birth weight often is used to predict how preterm infants will grow, but scant attention has been paid to the effect of neonatal morbidities on growth trajectories. We investigated birth weight and neonatal morbidity in preterm infants' growth to age 12 years.

Method

A five-group, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted with 194 infants: 46 full term; 29 healthy preterm without morbidity; 56 preterm with medical illness (MPT); 34 preterm with neurologic illness; and 29 preterm small for gestational age (SGA). Height, weight, and body mass index were measured at six ages.

Results

The full-term group had greater height than the preterm groups to age 8 years, when healthy preterm and MPT groups caught up. Only the SGA group had smaller height at age 12 years. The MPT, preterm with neurologic illness, and SGA groups had lower weight through age 12 years. Body mass index was appropriate for preterm groups by age 4 years. Across time, neonatal morbidity had a significant effect on height and weight trajectories. Birth weight was significant for weight trajectories only.

Discussion

With variation in growth trajectories, details of neonatal morbidity in health history interviews will inform child health assessments.

Introduction

Limited clinical and research data are available on early renal and cardiovascular complications in youth with diabetes. The possible associations of elevated microalbuminuria to creatinine (MC) ratios with heart rate variability (HRV) were explored in adolescents with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 (T2DM) diabetes.

Methods

A descriptive study was conducted with 41 adolescents with diabetes (n = 31 T1DM vs. n = 10 T2DM). Twenty-four hour Holter recordings for determining HRV, urine spot checks for MC ratio, and the most recent measures of glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) were obtained.

Results

HRV was significantly lower in the T2DM group, while BMI percentile, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher. For the T1DM group, clinical case examples provided evidence of elevated MC ratios (> 30μg/mg) occurring in two females who also had decreased HRV measures.

Discussion

Although HRV was not significantly associated with MC ratios for the sample, individual clinical findings can be a warning sign for some adolescents with diabetes. Current recommendations for screening of early renal complications and associated treatment are provided.

Introduction

Among rural children with asthma and their parents, this study examined the relationship between parental and child reports of quality of life and described the relationship of several factors such as asthma severity, missed days of work and asthma education on their quality of life.

Method

Two hundred and one rural families with asthma were enrolled in a school-based educational program. Intervention parents and children received interactive asthma workshop(s), asthma devices and literature. Parent and child quality of life measurements were obtained pre and post intervention using Juniper's Paediatric Caregivers Quality of Life and Juniper's Paediatric Quality of Life Questionnaires. Asthma severity was measured using criteria from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines.

Results

There was no association between parent and child total quality of life scores, and mean parental total quality of life scores were higher at baseline and follow-up than those of the children. All the parents' quality of life scores were correlated with parental reports of missed days of work. For all children, emotional quality of life (EQOL) was significantly associated with parental reports of school days missed (p= .03) and marginally associated with parental reports of hospitalizations due to asthma (p=.0.08). Parent's emotional quality of life (EQOL) and activity quality of life (AQOL) were significantly associated with children's asthma severity (EQOL, p=.009, AQOL, p=0.03), but not the asthma educational intervention. None of the child quality of life measurements were associated with asthma severity.

Discussion

Asthma interventions for rural families should help families focus on gaining and maintaining low asthma severity levels in order for families to enjoy an optimal quality of life. Health care providers should try to assess the child's quality of life at each asthma care visit independently of the parents.

Background

Parent-healthcare provider (HCP) communication is an important component of pediatric asthma management. Given the high prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and over-the-counter (OTC) medication use among this population, it is important to examine parental nondisclosure of these asthma management strategies.

Method

One-time interview and one-year retrospective medical record review with 228 parents of 5–12 year old children with asthma enrolled from 6 pediatric primary care practices examining parental nondisclosure of CAM and OTC medication use, reasons for nondisclosure, medical record documentation of CAM usage, and association between parent-HCP relationship and nondisclosure.

Results

Seventy-one percent of parents reported using CAM and/or OTC medication for children’s asthma management and 54% of those parents did not disclose usage. Seventy-five percent “did not think” to discuss it. Better parent-HCP relationship led to decreased nondisclosure.

Discussion

HCPs can play an important role in creating an environment where parents feel comfortable sharing information about their children’s asthma management strategies in order to arrive at a shared asthma management plan for the child leading to improved asthma health outcomes.

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to describe the development and clinical use of Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS), a time-efficient screening tool to assess for multiple adolescent risk behaviors.

Method

A retrospective chart audit was conducted to obtain descriptive data of middle school (N = 106) and alternative high school (N = 39) adolescents who completed the 17- to 18-item RAAPS questionnaire. Surveys assessed providers’ evaluations of the RAAPS.

Results

Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis indicated that providers using the RAAPS were able to identify risk behaviors/factors, provide counseling for these behaviors, and refer 26% of 9- to 15-year-olds and 43% of 16- to 20-year-olds for further assessment or ongoing risk counseling. In one brief clinic visit, the providers were able to address and document most risk behaviors/factors reported by the adolescents.

Discussion

Although psychometric analysis is needed, the RAAPS is a time efficient and comprehensive risk assessment tool. Early risk identification can assist providers in tailoring specific preventative education counseling and intervention programs that are geared to meet the specific needs of the adolescent population.