TREATMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF PATIENTS AND HEALTHY SIBLINGS

Objective: To examine behaviour problems of children in families where one child was diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD), in relat ion to the intensity of treatment required for the CHD. Methodology: T reatment intensity was based on patients' hospitalizations, surgical o perations, current treatment, frequency of check-ups and finality of s urgical repair. Mothers of 29 patients and 43 healthy siblings (4-14 y ears old), and a sub-sample of fathers, reported on behaviour problems of their children and rated the frequency of considering patient's CH D while performing routine child care in nine areas of family life (ac commodation of illness). Results: High treatment intensity was associa ted with high accommodation of illness and elevated behaviour problems among patients. In contrast, siblings in families where treatment int ensity was low, but accommodation of illness high were at most risk fo r behaviour problems. Conclusions: Treatment intensity has a markedly different impact on behaviour problems of patients and healthy sibling s. It is important for parents and healthcare professionals to provide both patients and siblings with information about the patient's medic al condition, regardless how much treatment that condition may need.