title: Growing up with congenital heart disease: the dilemmas of adolescents and young adults [see comment].
abstract: Advances in diagnosis, medical management and surgical intervention have improved the longevity and quality of life for children with congenital heart disease. Despite this, research studies specifically examining the psychosocial concerns of adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease are few. To explore the subjective experiences and dilemmas of this population during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, we interviewed, using a semi-structured protocol, a convenience sample of nine adolescents and young adults. Using analytic procedures inherent in Grounded Theory methodology, seven themes were identified: the dilemma of normality; dilemmas in disclosure; dilemmas in strategies for management of illness; the challenge of social integration versus social isolation; the challenge of dependence versus independence; the challenge of uncertainty; and strategies for coping. An understanding of these experiences by health professionals can be beneficial in helping this clinical population as they grow up and face the challenges of an uncertain, yet promising, future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, UCSF Stanford Health Care, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sparacino
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Messias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foote
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chesla
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gilliss
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment