title: Changes in perceived health of children with congenital heart disease after attending a special sports camp.
abstract: Sports camps for children with cardiac anomalies have existed for many years. However, no formal evaluation of the benefits of attending such camps has been undertaken heretofore. We assessed potential changes in the self-perceived health of children with congenital heart disease who attended a special sports camp. Thirty-one children with cardiac anomalies attended a 3-day multisports camp. Sixteen children, all of whom were 10 years or older, literate, and Dutch- or French-speaking, completed the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF87) before and after attending the camp. The scores of the children were compared with those of healthy peers by calculating mean standardized differences. After attendance at the sports camp, the children achieved significant improvements in the self-perception of their physical functioning, role functioning due to emotional problems, role functioning due to behavioral problems, mental health, and general behavior. The children's self-esteem and general behavior after the camp were significantly better than that of their healthy counterparts. We conclude that children with congenital heart disease who participate in activities at special sports camps may reap benefits in terms of their subjective health status. Although further research is needed, we recommend the participation in sport activities by children with heart defects, and more specifically their participation in sports camps.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium. Philip.Moons@med.kuleuven.ac.be.|Belgian National Foundation for Research in Pediatric Cardiology, Chemin Droleau 2, Rebecq, B-1430, Belgium. Philip.Moons@med.kuleuven.ac.be.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, Brussels, B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrea
authors.affiliation: Center for Congenital Heart Diseases A. Blancquaert, Ghent University Hospital-University Hospital of Antwerp, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gewillig
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Liège at CHR Citadelle, Boulevard du 12ieme de Ligne 1, Liége, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, Brussels, B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ovaert
authors.affiliation: Center for Congenital Heart Diseases A. Blancquaert, Ghent University Hospital-University Hospital of Antwerp, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suys
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, Brussels, B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sluysmans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001530:Belgium; D002165:Camping / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*