title: Health support program for family members with hospitalized child.
abstract: In 2001, we began conducting Health Support Programs on the pediatric ward of Miyazaki Medical College Hospital. The program is designed to help family members who accompany and care for their children who are ill and hospitalized to practice some physical movements for their own benefit. An interview survey was undertaken to clarify the effects and the purpose of the program by evaluating subjective data from program participants, as well as by evaluating changes in participants' blood pressure rates. Findings indicate that the program's effects include "reduction of stress and/or lack of exercise," "refreshing effect," "comfort and/or exhilaration," "relaxation," and "alleviation of physical symptoms." We also have noted that mothers become more aware of their own health issues and that the program offers an opportunity to reexamine their health conditions. Furtherrnore, we have learned that for parents and children who participate together, the program offers a fun environment, and that, on occasion, mothers are the ones who are cared for in the program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kurumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: Hifumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kusaba
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tazuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakata
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakatomi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires