Parents' and pediatricians' views of individuals with meningomyelocele.
The parents of 63 individuals with meningomyelocele completed a scale examining the effects of their child's disability on their family. Eighty-six pediatricians also completed the scale as they predicted parents would respond. Medical and psychosocial data were also obtained. The results showed the following: (1) A higher level lesion was associated with parental reports of a more negative impact on the family (p < .05), and (2) pediatricians predicted a more negative impact than was reported by the parents (p < .001). We conclude that pediatricians overestimate the negative effects while also underestimating the positive effects of the disability on the family.
Blaymore Bier
J A
JA
Child Development Center, Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University School of Medicine, Providence 02903 USA.
Liebling
J A
JA
Morales
Y
Y
Carlucci
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires