Pretransplant patient, parent, and family psychosocial functioning varies by organ type and patient age.

The goal of this study was to compare pretransplant patient HRQOL, parent psychological functioning, and the impact of the patient's ongoing illness on the family between organ types (ie, kidney, liver, heart) and age-groups (ie, children, AYAs). The sample included 80 pediatric patients with end-stage organ disease who were evaluated for transplantation and their parents. Parents completed self- and proxy reports at patients' pretransplant evaluations.

Predictors of health-related quality of life over time among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Background: Advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have contributed to increased survival for pediatric patients. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the impact of HSCT on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes for children. This study aimed to establish trajectories of HRQOL following HSCT and identify predictors of the HRQOL course.

Trajectories of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Children With Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy.

Objective: To identify two-year trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children with newly diagnosed epilepsy, and evaluate key predictors of HRQOL trajectories.

Methods: This study is part of a prospective study of adherence and HRQOL outcomes in children with epilepsy. Caregivers completed an HRQOL questionnaire at one month post diagnosis and every three months thereafter for two years.

Predictors of trajectories of epilepsy-specific quality of life among children newly diagnosed with epilepsy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify two-year trajectories of epilepsy-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children newly diagnosed with epilepsy and to evaluate the predictive value of a comprehensive set of medical, psychosocial, and family factors.

Methods: Ninety-four children with epilepsy (8.14 ± 2.

Executive Functioning, Barriers to Adherence, and Nonadherence in Adolescent and Young Adult Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVE : To evaluate levels of executive functioning in a sample of adolescent and young adult (AYA) transplant recipients, and to examine executive functioning in association with barriers to adherence and medication nonadherence.  METHOD : In all, 41 caregivers and 39 AYAs were administered self- and proxy-report measures.  RESULTS : AYA transplant recipients have significant impairments in executive functioning abilities.

Quality of Life Changes and Health Care Charges Among Youth With Epilepsy.

Objective: To examine differences in health care charges following a pediatric epilepsy diagnosis based on changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: Billing records were obtained for 171 youth [M (SD) age = 8.9 (4.

Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review: Medication Adherence Among Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive summary (systematic review) of medication adherence rates by assessment method and medication type for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), as well as identify important correlates for future research.

Methods: Articles assessing medication adherence and published between 1982 and February 2015 (n = 49) were identified using electronic databases. A meta-analysis of 14 studies examining demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors and medication adherence was conducted.

Behavioral predictors of medication adherence trajectories among youth with newly diagnosed epilepsy.

Objective: This study aimed to identify psychosocial predictors of two-year antiepileptic drug (AED) adherence trajectories among youth with newly diagnosed epilepsy, controlling for known demographic and medical factors.

Method: This study is part of a large, prospective, longitudinal observational study of AED adherence and medical outcomes in youth with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Parents completed questionnaires of psychosocial and family functioning at one month and one year following diagnosis.

Longitudinal stability of medication adherence among adolescent solid organ transplant recipients.

Solid organ transplantation requires ongoing adherence to immunosuppressants and other medications. Although adolescence is a risk factor for poor medication-taking, little is known about the patterns of adherence within individuals over time. This study aimed to examine the stability of adherence over time using three different assessment techniques.

Health related quality of life and social support in pediatric patients with pacemakers.

Prior research evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among pediatric patients with internal cardiac devices has primarily focused on children with cardiac defibrillators, with scant attention devoted to pacemaker recipients. Social support has been conceptualized as a protective factor that partially accounts for differences in HRQOL. This study compares the HRQOL of children with pacemakers with that of healthy children, and examines associations between HRQOL and social support.

Pediatric psychologist use of adherence assessments and interventions.

Objective: To document current clinical practices for medical regimen adherence assessment and intervention in the field of pediatric psychology.

Methods: 113 members of the Society of Pediatric Psychology completed an anonymous online survey that assessed use of adherence assessments and interventions in clinical practice, barriers and facilitators to their use, and preferred resources for obtaining information on adherence assessments and interventions.

Results: Respondents reported using a range of adherence assessment and intervention strategies, some of which are evidence-based.

Health-related quality of life and perceived need for mental health services in adolescent solid organ transplant recipients.

The purpose of the current investigation was to assess interest in mental health services among parents of adolescent solid organ transplant recipients and the relationship between parent perceived need for mental health services and patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Sixty-three parents rated interest in receiving 10 mental health services, and patient HRQOL ratings were gathered from adolescent transplant recipients and their parents. Ninety-four percent of parents expressed some level of interest in at least one of the proposed services, with over 40 % indicating maximum interest.

Factors associated with healthcare utilization among children with noncardiac chest pain and innocent heart murmurs.

Objective: To examine differences in factors related to health care utilization (HCU) among children eventually diagnosed with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) or an innocent heart murmur (IHM).

Methods: 67 pediatric patients with NCCP and 62 with IHM and their parent/guardian completed paper-and-pencil measures of psychological functioning and past HCU during an initial visit to the cardiologist's office.

Results: Children with NCCP utilized significantly more health care services compared to their IHM counterparts in the year prior to their cardiology visit.

Posttraumatic growth associated with a relative's serious illness.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) involves personal psychological growth in response to a traumatic or very stressful event. Using theoretical guidance from Tedeschi and Calhoun's cognitive model, this study evaluated the relationship between specific individual, distress, and stress-processing factors and PTG among young adults who experienced an illness-related trauma earlier in life through a relative's serious illness. Sixty individuals with a relative with a serious illness completed measures of PTG, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), anxiety, and coping.

A pilot study evaluating an abbreviated version of the cognitive remediation programme for youth with neurocognitive deficits.

Primary Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an abbreviated version of an established cognitive remediation programme for children with neurological disorders and attention problems in an outpatient setting.

Methods And Procedures: Eighteen 6-15-year-old children diagnosed with neurological and attention difficulties completed a six-module training programme aimed at improving attention. This programme was a shorter version of the Cognitive Remediation Programme (CRP), which has been successfully implemented with children with neurocognitive deficits.

Predictors of long-term health-related quality of life in adolescent solid organ transplant recipients.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify prospective predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for adolescent solid organ (kidney, liver, heart, lung) transplant recipients.

Methods: Data regarding demographics, individual/transplant characteristics, and environmental characteristics were gathered from 66 adolescent transplant recipients and their families at baseline and used to predict the physical functioning, mental health, and general health perceptions domains of HRQOL 18 months later.

Results: Baseline levels of HRQOL explained the greatest amount of variance in levels of HRQOL at follow-up; however, specific demographic (i.

Posttraumatic growth in young adults who experienced serious childhood illness: a mixed-methods approach.

Sixty young adult survivors of a serious childhood illness completed quantitative and qualitative measures assessing the relationship between specific disease and distress factors and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Individuals who had recovered from their illness reported greater growth than those who were currently experiencing their illness. The regression model accounted for 47% of the variance in PTG, with perceived severity, illness status, and posttraumatic stress symptoms emerging as significant predictors.

Use of low-dose ketamine infusion for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease-related pain: a case series.

Objectives: Sickle cell disease-related pain is difficult to treat adequately. Pain secondary to vasoocclusive episodes (VOE) may be unresponsive to high-dose intravenous opiates. Alternative treatment options for VOE are needed.

Behavioural assessment of pediatric pain.

Behavioural assessment methods have been used to signal the need for intervention and to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Direct observation and rating scales have been used to assess pain and distress associated with acute medical procedures, postoperative pain, critical care, analogue pain induction procedures and other sources. Two recent scholarly reviews of behavioural assessment methods were conducted by the Society of Pediatric Psychology Evidence-Based Assessment Task Force and the Pediatric Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials, which classified various instruments as well established, approaching well established or promising.

Retrospective evaluation of pain assessment and treatment for acute vasoocclusive episodes in children with sickle cell disease.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the care of pediatric patients hospitalized for sickle cell disease-related vasoocclusive episodes (VOE). The aim of this research was to illustrate the course of pain scores and methods of therapeutic intervention during hospitalization.

Procedure: Retrospective medical chart reviews were conducted to collect pain assessment and management data about children hospitalized during a 2-year period at an urban children's hospital.