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Treatment with growth hormone. What do children know and how do they accept it?
J P López Siguero1, M J Martínez Aedo, M D López Moreno
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Málaga, Spain.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) therapy is effective for promoting growth in children.
- Psychosocial factors, including patient knowledge and understanding, can impact GH treatment outcomes.
- A strong correlation exists between a child's comprehension of their treatment and their adherence and acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the knowledge and acceptance levels of growth hormone treatment in pediatric patients.
- To identify factors influencing children's understanding and acceptance of GH therapy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions, such as camps, on patient knowledge and acceptance.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to 90 children undergoing growth hormone treatment.
- Data collected focused on assessing patient knowledge and acceptance of their medical regimen.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare knowledge and acceptance scores and identify correlations.
Main Results:
- Acceptance scores were significantly higher than knowledge scores (p < 0.00001).
- No significant correlation was found between knowledge and acceptance variables.
- Children who attended an educational camp demonstrated higher acceptance scores.
- A notable deficit in knowledge regarding the injection system was observed.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients exhibit higher acceptance than knowledge regarding growth hormone therapy.
- There is a critical need for improved patient education, particularly concerning the injection device.
- Developing targeted educational programs is recommended to enhance patient understanding and optimize treatment outcomes.
Abstract:
Treatment with growth hormone in children is a very effective promotor of growth. The psychosocial environment of children may influence the results of this treatment. It has been shown that there is a clear relationship between the knowledge and understanding a child has of the treatment and the degree of compliance and acceptance. We have studied 90 children treated with growth hormone who filled in a questionnaire in order to know the knowledge and acceptance of their treatment. The scores for acceptance were significantly higher than for knowledge (p < 0.00001), without correlations between the two variables. The higher marks were achieved by children who had attended an educational camp. A serious lack of knowledge about the aspects directly related with the injection system was noted. We advise to design a suitable educational program for these patients.