Belgian siblings of children with a chronic illness: Is their quality of life different from their peers?. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Havermans, Trudy; Croock, Ilse De; Vercruysse, Trui; Goethals, Eveline; Diest, Ilse Van
• Is Part Of: Journal of child health care. Volume 19:Number 2(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 154
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Chronic illness -- impact of illness -- quality of life -- self-report -- siblings; Pediatric nursing -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Child health services -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1177/1367493513503582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4935

Abstract

To assess Belgian siblings' self-reported quality of life (QoL) and the impact of illness on four different paediatric illnesses. Healthy siblings ( n = 131) of children with type 1 diabetes, cancer, congenital heart disease (CHD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) completed the Child Health Questionnaire and the Sibling Perception Questionnaire. Results were compared to those of a matched group of siblings of healthy children. Siblings reported a good QoL, similar to controls, with the exception that siblings reported better on the QoL domain pain ( p < .01). QoL was not related to time since diagnosis but the impact of illness was higher nearer to the time of diagnosis ( r = −.39, p < .001). QoL of siblings of children with CHD or cancer was lower than QoL in the CF or type 1 diabetes group whilst impact of illness was highest for the CHD group. QoL of siblings of a child with a chronic illness is similar to the QoL of peers. Studies investigating siblings' QoL or the impact of illness on siblings should include the day-to-day demands of the illness as well as less obvious illness-related issues like 'hidden stress' and 'sense of control'.