Changes in Perceived Health of Children with Congenital Heart Disease After Attending a Special Sports Camp

Abstract

Sports camps for children with cardiac anomalies have existed for many years. However, no formal evaluation of the benefits of attending such camps has been undertaken heretofore. We assessed potential changes in the self-perceived health of children with congenital heart disease who attended a special sports camp. Thirty-one children with cardiac anomalies attended a 3-day multisports camp. Sixteen children, all of whom were 10 years or older, literate, and Dutch- or French-speaking, completed the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF87) before and after attending the camp. The scores of the children were compared with those of healthy peers by calculating mean standardized differences. After attendance at the sports camp, the children achieved significant improvements in the self-perception of their physical functioning, role functioning due to emotional problems, role functioning due to behavioral problems, mental health, and general behavior. The children's self-esteem and general behavior after the camp were significantly better than that of their healthy counterparts. We conclude that children with congenital heart disease who participate in activities at special sports camps may reap benefits in terms of their subjective health status. Although further research is needed, we recommend the participation in sport activities by children with heart defects, and more specifically their participation in sports camps.

Improved perceived health status persists three months after a special sports camp for children with congenital heart disease

“…We corroborated our previous findings [5], showing that self-perceived health measured at the end of the sports camp is better than that measured before the camp. The immediate post-camp scores were significantly higher in 7 of 9 CHQ-CF87 dimensions.…”

“…The results of the present study replicate and extended those of our previous study conducted in 2004, in which we assessed changes in the perceived health of children with congenital heart disease attending a special sports camp [5]. The present study had a larger sample, and, moreover, determined whether the perceived health improvement in the children persisted three months after the camp concluded.…”

“…We found that the children's physical functioning, role functioning due to emotional problems, role functioning due to behavioral problems, mental health, and general behavior significantly improved by the end of the camp. Moreover, compared with their status at the start of the camp, the children's selfesteem and general behavior after the camp was significantly better than that of their healthy peers [5].…”

“…In addition, several beneficial psychological and medical effects may result from participation. Empirical data on how these camps affect children with congenital heart disease is limited to one study undertaken in Belgium [5]. In this 2004 study, we administered the Child Health Questionnaire [4] to children with congenital heart disease at the start and the end of a three-day sports camp to investigate their perceived health status.…”

Concept Mapping Analysis of Social Skills Camp Experience for Children with Disabilities

“…In their systematic review, Moola et al (2013) identified 21 studies of specialised therapeutic camps for children with chronic illnesses. The authors reported that in general, TR experiences tended to have some positive effects on the children with disabilities, including reduced aggression (Barr et al, 2010), improved wellbeing, self-perception, and emotional outlook (Bongiovanni, Clark, Garnett, Wojcicki, & Heyman, 2010), improved social and communication skills (Cushner-Weinsteine et al, 2007), increased self-esteem (Devine & Dawson, 2010;Torok, Kokonyei, Karolyi, Ittzes, & Tomcsanyi, 2006), improved self-management skills (Hunter, Rosnov, Koontz, & Roberts, 2006), higher peer acceptance (Meltzer & Rourke, 2005), better general physical and mental health functioning (Moons et al, 2006), better coping skills (Nicholas, Williams, & MacLusky, 2009), higher self-competence (Pulgaron, Salamon, Patterson, & Barakat, 2010), better quality of life (Shepanski et al, 2005), and general life satisfaction (Wu, Prout, Roberts, Parikshak, & Amylon, 2011). A range of other studies on specialised camps have also identified positive impacts for children with disabilities, including greater self-competence (Dawson & Liddicoat, 2009;Hill & Sibthorp, 2006), independence (Dawson & Liddicoat, 2009), social competence and sense of belonging (Dawson & Liddicoat, 2009;Lopata et al, 2010), positive parent-child communication skills (Walker, Barry, & Bader, 2010), care giving appreciation (Dawson & Liddicoat, 2009), ADHD symptom reduction (Hantson et al, 2012), diminished autism symptoms (Lopata et al 2010), reduction in anxiety (Briery & Rabian, 1999), and general physical and emotional empowerment, well-being, and satisfaction (Nettina, Donnelly, & Florio, 2003).…”