Transcript Parent Support Group for Children with Chronic Eczema

Parent Support Group for
Children with Chronic
Eczema
Dr Theresa Leung
SMO
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Chronic childhood eczema
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Affects 30% of school aged
children
Chronic, relapsing
Incurable
Disfiguring
Vicious cycle of inflammation,
itchiness and scratching
Stress related
Time consuming treatment
modalities
Quality of Life and Impact on Family
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Children
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80% affect their school work
60% reported bullying or avoidance by
schoolmates for the skin problem
Parents
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60% increase their time spent in housework in
moderate to severe degree
70% affect their own sleep moderate to severe
degree
40% parents felt severely depressed & frustrated
Coping Strategies
Children
Scratch until it bleeds
Poke with nails
Bathing
Throw out temper
Put emollients
Parents
Ask to stop scratching
Tell to bathe
Give medication
Tell to watch TV
Scolding
Scratch for them
What can we do?
Aim
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To support the family and children with
chronic severe eczema to sustain normal
learning and development and to achieve
better quality of life.
The pilot programme
Health Talks
Group games
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Arts and Crafts
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Expression of
feelings
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School life
dermatologist
paediatrician
TCM doctors
Nurses
Dietitian
Stress management
Coping strategies
Relaxation exercise
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Clinical psychologist
Parents sharing
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Social worker
Understanding, Sharing
& Support
Participants
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In July 2005, 2 hours sessions x 3
8 families with children aged 8-12 with severe
chronic eczema
10 children ,10 parents
Feedback survey from parents
Feedback
number
Better understanding of the disease
9/10
Learn more about skin care
10/10
Understand about diet and eczema
9/10
Learn relaxation techniques and stress management 6/10
Play therapy is one of the most useful activity
4/10
Willingness to join further activities
10/10
To be a core member of the support group
10/10
Hong Kong East
Community
Network
Department of
Paediatrics and
Adolescent
Medicine PYNEH
Other Health Care
Providers
Patients and
their families
Parent Support Group for
Children with Chronic
Eczema in HKEC
Community Engagement
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Engagement of family and patients as core members
 Mutual support within and between families
 Sharing of experiences
 Care ambassadors
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Partnership with social services
 TWGH Hong Kong East Community Care Network
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Involvement of other community resources
 Private doctors, TCM doctors
 Polytechnic University
 Schools
 Other volunteers & …
Our achievement
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From November 2005 to July 2006
30 families
16 sessions
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Health talks and discussion
Group activities
Volunteer training and visits
Enhance knowledge, stress management and
coping skills
Provide counseling, sharing and support
Empowerment of family as a whole
Building community network
Nurture Health, Harmony and Integration
我以往在加拿大接受過不同類型的輔
導和治療，心結始終未能解開；但在
這裡，不但輔導員的新手法令我解除
過往的枷鎖，而且有『同聲同氣』的
人互助支持，感覺的確好好多
這樣的支援小組，不但支援了我
們這些家長，讓我們可以彼此支
持，而且孩子們之間亦可以互相
鼓勵和學習，可謂相得益彰
Our vision……
……to sustain and to help more desperate patients
and families to lead a normal life
Thanks to
Other team members
Rebecca Hui
Yvonne Yu
Wood Woo
Doris Kot
AND
All participating children and parents