Exploring Health Educational Interventions for Children With Congenital Heart Disease: Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Health Education
• Patient Empowerment

Background:

• Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect in the US, necessitating lifelong management and education.
• Effective management of CHD in children hinges on their comprehension of the condition, emphasizing the need for targeted health literacy interventions.
• Current educational approaches often overlook the specific needs of younger children, particularly those under 13.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map and analyze existing health educational interventions for children with congenital heart disease (CHD).
• To identify intervention types, target populations, delivery methods, and outcomes to inform future research and practice.
• To consolidate fragmented research and pinpoint gaps in the current literature on CHD health education.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR framework was conducted in February 2024.
• Searches spanned multiple databases across health care, design, and human-computer interaction disciplines.
• Eleven studies (9 RCTs, 2 observational) published in English were included, focusing on primary data of educational interventions for children with CHD.

Main Results:

• Six educational strategies were identified: 3D models, habit formation, empowerment programs, rehabilitation, web portals, and videotapes.
• Interventions varied in duration (brief to 1.5 years) and follow-up (0-24 months), targeting primarily adolescents (13+) and their parents.
• Key outcomes included improved health literacy, reduced parental burden, and enhanced healthcare provider efficiency, with questionnaires being the primary assessment tool.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for tailored, age-appropriate health educational interventions for children with CHD, especially for those younger than 13.
• Current interventions often focus on adolescents and rely heavily on parental involvement, necessitating a shift towards child-centered approaches.
• Developing engaging interventions that empower children with CHD is essential for improving their long-term health outcomes and self-management capabilities.