The psychological and social impact of camp for children with chronic illnesses: a systematic review update

Abstract

Advances in medicine have reduced mortality among children with complex medical conditions, resulting in a growing number of young patients living with chronic illnesses. Despite an improved prognosis, these children experience significant psychosocial morbidity, such as depression and anxiety. Therapeutic summer recreation camps have been proposed as an intervention to enhance quality of life among these children. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the psychosocial impact of camp for children with chronic illnesses. A systematic review of central databases was undertaken using key words, and a rating tool – the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies – was employed to rate methodological quality. 21 studies were included in this systematic review. Although overall methodological quality was weak, camp participation appeared to offer short-term psychosocial benefits on some parameters in children with a variety of chronic illnesses. There was some consistency in improved social outcomes, such as social interaction and acceptance. Based on the available evidence, it is premature to make robust claims regarding the psychosocial impact of camp as a therapeutic intervention. Theoretically informed camp programs, long-term follow-up, and incorporating camp-based messaging into routine hospital care,may enhance the utility of camp as a potential psychosocial intervention in paediatrics.

Positive Youth Development at Camps for Youth with Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…A more recent systematic review on camps for children with COCI found results similar to the review by Epstein and colleagues (Moola, Faulkner, White, & Kirsh, 2014). Despite methodological limitations to the reviewed literature and a lack of long-term impact, the researchers concluded that participation in camp resulted in some short-term psychosocial benefits for children with a variety of chronic illnesses (Moola et al, 2014).…”

“…Despite methodological limitations to the reviewed literature and a lack of long-term impact, the researchers concluded that participation in camp resulted in some short-term psychosocial benefits for children with a variety of chronic illnesses (Moola et al, 2014). These reviews focused on immediate and measurable psychosocial outcomes of camp participation and did not assess camp structure or programming described in the literature.…”

“…These reviews focused on immediate and measurable psychosocial outcomes of camp participation and did not assess camp structure or programming described in the literature. Moola et al (2014) found that camp studies were rarely informed by theoretical models, and to date no reviews have assessed for theoretical models informing camp programming. In this article, we assessed the medical specialty camp literature for camp processes and outcomes that are consistent with the evidence-based theoretical model of positive youth development (Eccles & Gootman, 2002).…”

“…In this article, we assessed the medical specialty camp literature for camp processes and outcomes that are consistent with the evidence-based theoretical model of positive youth development (Eccles & Gootman, 2002). A review of camps themselves, using the literature, may elucidate the gap between the limited short-term psychosocial benefits and the overwhelmingly positive qualitative data and participant feedback documented in the literature (Moola et al, 2014).…”

Communication, Coping, and Connections: Campers’ and Parents’ Perspectives of Self-Efficacy and Benefits of Participation in Deployment Support Camps

“…The literature contains reports of using the camp setting as a means to bring together those with the same chronic illnesses and health conditions, such as cancer (Conrad, & Altmaier, 2009;Gillard & Watts, 2013;Martiniuk, 2003), HIV/AIDS (Gillard, Witt, & Watts, 2011), and spina bifida (Holbein et al, 2013), among others, and with shared life circumstances such as bereavement (Creed, Ruffin, & Ward, 2001;Nabors et al, 2004). A systematic review of 21 studies of camps for children with chronic illnesses showed a high level of satisfaction and improvements in social-related outcomes, but noted some methodological limitations (Moola, Faulkner, White, & Kirsh, 2013). Features related to social support include fostering a sense of belonging and participants having the sense that they could relate to other campers (Gillard & Watts, 2013;Roberson, 2010).…”