TY - JOUR
T1 - The symptom experience of hospitalised Chinese children and adolescents and relationship to pre-hospital factors and behaviour problems
AU - Franck, L S
AU - Kools, S
AU - Kennedy, C
AU - Kong, S K F
AU - Chen, J L
AU - Wong, T K S
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - Purpose: To describe the symptom experience of hospitalised Chinese children and adolescents and examine the relationship of symptoms to pre-hospital factors and child behaviour. Methods: Data were collected at two hospital sites in Hong Kong (HK) and at five hospitals in the Chinese Mainland (CM). A total of 307 hospitalised children and adolescents (ages 2-18) and their primary caregiver (e.g., mother, father or grandparent) participated in the study. Children and adolescents completed an age-appropriate symptom diary on one evening and subsequent morning early in their hospital stay. Parents completed the diary for the children less than 6 years of age. Parents also completed an age-appropriate Chinese version of the Child Behaviour Checklist. Results: Over 50% of the children and adolescents reported some degree of pain, 75% of them reported evening tiredness, and 21% reported gastrointestinal symptoms. The intensity of symptoms varied by age and region and symptoms often co-occurred. Greater symptom burden was predicted by previous surgery, higher level of worst pain prior to hospitalisation, parent report of child behaviour problems, and co-occurrence of other symptoms. Conclusions: Hospitalised Chinese children manifest symptoms of pain, tiredness, and gastrointestinal distress that vary based on pre-hospital factors and are associated with child behaviour problems. Further research is needed to identify causes and treatments for children's symptoms. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - Purpose: To describe the symptom experience of hospitalised Chinese children and adolescents and examine the relationship of symptoms to pre-hospital factors and child behaviour. Methods: Data were collected at two hospital sites in Hong Kong (HK) and at five hospitals in the Chinese Mainland (CM). A total of 307 hospitalised children and adolescents (ages 2-18) and their primary caregiver (e.g., mother, father or grandparent) participated in the study. Children and adolescents completed an age-appropriate symptom diary on one evening and subsequent morning early in their hospital stay. Parents completed the diary for the children less than 6 years of age. Parents also completed an age-appropriate Chinese version of the Child Behaviour Checklist. Results: Over 50% of the children and adolescents reported some degree of pain, 75% of them reported evening tiredness, and 21% reported gastrointestinal symptoms. The intensity of symptoms varied by age and region and symptoms often co-occurred. Greater symptom burden was predicted by previous surgery, higher level of worst pain prior to hospitalisation, parent report of child behaviour problems, and co-occurrence of other symptoms. Conclusions: Hospitalised Chinese children manifest symptoms of pain, tiredness, and gastrointestinal distress that vary based on pre-hospital factors and are associated with child behaviour problems. Further research is needed to identify causes and treatments for children's symptoms. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3042803173&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.02.001
DO - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.02.001
M3 - Article
SN - 1873-491X
VL - 41
SP - 661
EP - 669
JO - International Journal of Nursing Studies
JF - International Journal of Nursing Studies
IS - 6
ER -