Well-being in children with juvenile chronic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe a model for predicting well-being in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA).


METHODS
125 children (43 boys) (median age 14.1 yrs; range 10.3-17.8) rated disability and discomfort (Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire). Pain control, pain reduction and fatigue were evaluated (visual analogue scales). In addition, variation of pain intensity was rated by a pain intensity scale. Analysis by the stepwise regression technique was used to explain the variability in well-being. Eight independent variables were included as possible predictors in the model (p < 0.1).


RESULTS
The analyses indicated that well-being in children with JCA is related to three clusters of variables; pain "as it normally is", number of pain-free days and attending physical education classes. The analysis explained a substantial portion of the total variance in the children's well-being (55.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pain is a robust predictor of well-being in children with JCA. This supports the concept of the benefits of reducing chronic joint pain as a major goal in caring of these children.
Nordic School of Public Health, Göteborg, Sweden. Christina.sallfors@telia.com
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Hallberg
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires