title: Families of children with congenital heart disease: A literature review.
abstract: In 2000 and 2002, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched two initiatives to encourage treatment innovations and research on children with heart disease and their families. Since then, no systematic reviews have examined the evidence regarding the impacts of having a child with congenital heart disease (CHD) on families. This review synthesized key findings regarding families of children with CHD, critiqued research methods, described what has been done, and provided recommendations for future inquiry. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, Women's Studies International, and PsycINFO. The literature search followed the PRISMA guidelines. As a result, ninety-four articles were reviewed. Four major themes were derived: parents' psychological health, family life, parenting challenges, and family-focused interventions. In conclusion, while they found parents having psychological symptoms, researchers did not explore parents' appraisals of what led to their symptoms. Research is needed to explore parents' experiences and expectations.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, USA. Electronic address: hongwei@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Family Health Division, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, USA.
authors.forename: Cecelia I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Roscigno
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cherissa C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Seattle University, 901 12th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Children; Congenital heart disease; Impacts on family; Parents; Psychological health