Assessment of Psychological Impact among Hospitalized Children; Single Centre Study

Abstract Background The modern hospital environment is geared towards providing a safe and healing environment for those afflicted with a variety of illnesses. Staying in the hospital may affect patient's behavior and emotions, which may have an impact on patient's health and development. Aim of Work The aim of the work was Psychosocial and mental health assessment among the hospitalized children between 7 to 12 years of age via clinical psychosocial structured interview for patients using Pediatric symptom checklist (PSCL) and assessment of pain using VAS (visual analogue scale for pain). Subjects and Methods This was a Cross Sectional Study curried out at Children’s Hospital Faculty of Medicine for 1 year duration on hospitalized children; the studied populations were divided into cases group and control group. Cases group were further divided according to the presence of acute or chronic illness. Children aging from 7 years to 12 years, children diagnosed with medical illness or surgical cause or both were included to this study in the cases group. While in control group matched healthy children were added. Children in pediatric intensive care unit or with known psychiatric illness were excluded. Detailed medical history through direct interview with the patients & their legal guardian was done. Psychosocial assessment & interview: The following questionnaires were being applied: Clinical psychosocial structured interview for patients using Pediatric symptom checklist (PSCL) to facilitate recognition of emotional and behavioral problems (Arabic version). Assessment of pain using VAS (visual analogue scale for pain). Results Higher results were found between the 3 groups in all subscales of PSC-17 being higher in chronic illness then acute illness then control group with P value (0.000) in total score, internalizing subscale, attention subscale except for externalizing subscale result where no significant difference found between the 3 groups with P value (0.059). There is a highly significant difference between cases group and control group as regard VAS scale for pain with P value (0.000) while no significant difference found between both acute illness and chronic illness group with P value (0.299). Conclusion Hospitalized Children due to chronic or acute conditions are at a higher risk for Psychosocial and mental health disorders as; depression, ADHD and pain in comparison with healthy children.