title: [Evaluation of a Self-Help Supported Counseling Concept for Children and Adolescents with Disproportional Short Stature].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disproportionate short stature may impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families. This study aimed to evaluate a self-help supported counseling concept to increase the QoL of the participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  QoL data from 58 children/adolescents (8-17 years) with a diagnosis of achondroplasia was collected at 2 measurement points during one year using the the QoLISSY questionnaire (self-/parental report). Differences before and after participation vs. non-participation in the intervention were evaluated using a linear mixed model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The longitudinal results show a greater increase of QoL in the active intervention group compared to a passive control group (p=0,005). The increase in the self-reported QoL of affected patients was significantly higher than for the parent-report (p=0,048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that patients with achondroplasia benefit from a self-help supported counseling concept. However, this should be tested in a randomized trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rohenkohl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: German Association for People of Short Stature and their Families, Bremen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahrs
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullinger
authors.affiliation: German Association for People of Short Stature and their Families, Bremen.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Klingebiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Quitmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends