Using photovoice to explore the unique life perspectives of youth with sickle cell disease: a pilot study.

Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) has been associated with multiple physical and psychosocial challenges but less is known about the experience of living with the disease, particularly from the perspective of children/adolescents. Photovoice uses photography to access the experiences of individuals living with a disease and provides them with a voice for expression. It provides a unique approach to exploring the perspective of children/adolescents with SCD.

Mental health disorders influence admission rates for pain in children with sickle cell disease.

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience a broad range of mental health disorders placing them at risk for more complicated hospitalizations for pain. The current study examined the impact of mental health disorders on admission rates and hospital length of stay (LOS) for vaso-occlusive pain events (VOE) in pediatric patients with SCD.

Procedure: Patients (5-18 years old) with a primary discharge diagnosis of SCD with crisis were acquired through the Pediatric Health Information System and categorized by history of mental health disorders (mood disorder, anxiety disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, and substance use disorder).