The symptom experience of hospitalised Chinese children and adolescents and relationship to pre-hospital factors and behaviour problems

L S Franck, S Kools, C Kennedy, S K F Kong, J L Chen, T K S Wong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)661 - 669
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Nursing Studies
Volume41
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2004

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