The benefits of a camp designed for children with epilepsy: evaluating adaptive behaviors over 3 years.
OBJECTIVE
Children with epilepsy attending a condition-specific overnight camp were evaluated for behavioral changes over 3 consecutive years, using a modification of the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale.


METHODS
Trained counselors completed pre- and postcamp assessments for each camper. Repeated-measures MANOVA was used to analyze effects of the camp experience for each year, with respect to gender and age. Repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to evaluate long-term effects from year-to-year comparisons for return campers, following three successive camp experiences.


RESULTS
A significant change in social interaction was observed over 3 years. Despite some decline at the start of camp in consecutive years, the overall trend for return campers suggests a positive cumulative impact of continued camp participation, with improvements in the domains of social interaction, responsibility, and communication.


CONCLUSIONS
A condition-specific camp designed for children with epilepsy can improve adaptive behaviors and social interactions. Overall net gains appear to increase over time, suggesting additional benefits for return campers.
Cushner-Weinstein
Sandra
S
Children's National Medical Center, Division of Neurosciences and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010-2970, USA. scushwei@cnmc.org
Berl
Madison
M
Salpekar
Jay A
JA
Johnson
Jami L
JL
Pearl
Phillip L
PL
Conry
Joan A
JA
Kolodgie
Marian
M
Scully
Audrey
A
Gaillard
William D
WD
Weinstein
Steven L
SL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011998:Recreation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors