Psychological Problems and Coping Patterns among Parents of Children with Neuromuscular Diseases

Background: Neuromuscular diseases are chronic and have a large impact on patients and their families. The study aimed to: Assess psychological problems and coping patterns among parents of children's with neuromuscular diseases in pediatric intensive care unit. Research design: A descriptive research design was used to conduct the study. Setting: Study was conducted at pediatric intensive care unit affiliated to Benha university hospital, Qalyubia, Egypt. Sample: A total of 80 parents of children with neuromuscular diseases from the above mentioned setting. Tools: Interview Questionnaire including 3 tools: Tool (I): Demographic and clinical characteristics data for parents and children. Tool (II) Beck depression inventory scale and Taylor manfist anxiety scale. Tool (III): Parental coping strategy Results: Findings of the present study showed that, 58.8% of the parent of children with neuromuscular disease had moderate depression.30.0% of the parents of children with neuromuscular disease had moderate level of anxiety. 78.75% of the parents of children with neuromuscular disease had effective coping. Conclusion: Parents of children with neuromuscular diseases prone to moderate level of anxiety and depression and had effective coping strategies .parents of children with neuromuscular diseases needed different types of support that to continual care of their child. Recommendation: Psychosocial counseling program can be designed and administered to parents of child with neuromuscular disease to improve their psychological problems such as (anxiety, and depression) Further research is needed to shed light on the gaps in the support chain and the potential to improve the current care, to identify evidence-based family interventions that aim to support individual family members’ well-being, integrity, and family functioning through the course of the disease and at important transitions