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Children with mental versus physical health problems: differences in perceived disease severity, health care service utilization and parental health literacy

Dey, Michelle ; Wang, Jen ; Jorm, Anthony ; Mohler-Kuo, Meichun

In: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2015, vol. 50, no. 3, p. 407-418

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    Titre
    • Children with mental versus physical health problems: differences in perceived disease severity, health care service utilization and parental health literacy
    Auteur
    • Dey, Michelle. Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, 3010, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
    • Wang, Jen. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Jorm, Anthony. Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, 3010, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
    • Mohler-Kuo, Meichun. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2015, vol. 50, no. 3, p. 407-418. Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:332001
    Summary
    Purpose: To compare children with mental and physical health problems regarding (1) perceived disease severity; (2) the impact of their condition on their families; (3) their utilization of health care services (including satisfaction with care); and (4) parents' health literacy about their child's condition and its treatment. Furthermore, we examined whether parents' health literacy differs between types of mental health condition. Methods: Parental reports about their 9- to 14-year-old children with mental (n=785) or physical health problems (n=475) were analyzed from the population-based National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Switzerland. Results: Mental health problems were perceived as being more severe (p<0.001) and exerting a larger impact upon the family (e.g., financial impact) than physical health problems. Furthermore, fewer parents of children with a mental health problem mentioned having a particular person or place to contact if they needed information or advice regarding the child's condition (p=0.004) and were satisfied with the health care services their child received (p<0.001). The odds of low health literacy was higher among parents with children suffering from mental health problems vs. parents of children with physical health problems (OR in the adjusted model=1.92; 95% CI 1.47-2.50; p<0.001); this finding held generally for mental health problem (although only a trend was observable for internalizing problems). Conclusions: The large impact of children's mental health conditions on themselves and their families might be reduced by adapting the provision of health care and by increasing parents' health literacy.