Coping Skills Training (CST) for Children With Chronic Health Conditions: An Extension From Children With Diabetes to Children With Rheumatologic Conditions, Epilepsy, Spina Bifida, and Asthma

Many children with chronic health conditions (CHC) are at increased risk for poor adaptation such as psychosocial problems, behavioral disturbances, and decreased quality of life (QOL). Their parents face economic, social and emotional challenges. In addition, management of the CHC and the involvement of the child in that management can severely challenge both child and parent. Effective coping has been shown to moderate the negative impact of CHC. This study is a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of adapting a Coping Skills Training (CST) intervention developed for children with diabetes. The CST intervention will be adapted for an integrated sample of school-aged children 8 to 12 years of age with four health conditions (Rheumatologic Conditions, Epilepsy,Spina Bifida, and Asthma). The study will be a randomized clinical trial with a wait-list control group. Each arm will consist of 25 families. CST is a 6-session group intervention based on cognitive behavioral and learning theory. The impact of CST on both outcomes (child: depression, QOL; parent: depression, Child QOL, CHC impact on family) and protective factors (child: health motivation, attitude, self-management efficacy; parent: family conflict) will be measured.