Objective: Caregiver burden is a factor that caregivers undertake for patients with chronic diseases and individuals in need of care. Depending on the symptoms of the disease and the processes following the diagnosis, depression problems may develop in caregivers. In this study, it was aimed at determining the caregiving burden of parents who have children with chronic diseases, the condition of special needs, and the factors that affect this burden. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 206 parents of children who had been diagnosed with a chronic disease for at least 1 year. The sociodemographic data, the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 & 9, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers were provided to the parents. Results: Eighty-four of the participants had little or no caregiver burden, while 122 had moderate and severe caregiver burden. The mean caregiving burden score of mothers was higher (P = .004). Fathers’ caregiver burden scores varied depending on the level of education (P = .031). Caregiving burden score was found to differ according to income level (P < .001). The mean caregiving burden score of individuals with chronic disease in the family was higher (P < .001). It was determined that individuals with higher Patient Health Questionnaire 2 and 9 scores and those who did not receive psychological support were higher (P < .001). Conclusion: Parents who are providing care for children with chronic diseases should be supported and closely monitored for signs of depression. Cite this article as: Güven Baysal Ş, Çorabay S. Caregiver burden and depression conditions in parents of children with chronic diseases. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(1):70-77.

The objective of the study was to compare the motor development of children with Down syndrome (DS) who received physical therapy (PT) and did not receive PT, and to show the effect of PT programs started before the age of one on movement development. The study included aged between 6 and 42 months, 58 children with DS. Children with DS were divided into two groups as receiving PT and non-receiving PT. Children with DS who received PT were further divided into two groups according to the age of starting PT as before and after 1 year of age. Gross motor and fine motor development of the cases were evaluated with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. Gross motor scaled scores (GM-SS: 3.88±3.46–1.67±1.23), fine motor scaled scores (FM-SS: 4.29±3.24–1.79±0.93), and composite scores (64.4±19.5–50.38±5.38) of PT group were statistically higher than the non-PT group (p<0.05). In addition, GM-SS (5.22±4.23–2.38±1.20), FM-SS; (5.61±3.85–2.81±1.37), and composite scores (72.33±23.85–55.56±5.7) of the cases who started PT before the age of one were statistically higher than those who started after the age of one (p<0.05). Our results revealed that PT especially when started early childhood under had a positive effect on the development of gross and fine motor in children with DS and provided a scientific basis for referring children with DS to PT programs before the age of one. Clinicians should recommend PT for children with DS in the early period.

Objective: Many studies have shown a positive relationship between parenting knowledge and early childhood development. We aimed to assess parenting knowledge about early childhood development and child-rearing in a sample of Turkish mothers and fathers. Methods: A total of 106 married Turkish couples with children under the age of three participated in our study. Mothers and fathers completed 45 questions of the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory (KIDI) and a sociodemographic questionnaire, individually. The KIDI is widely used in the international literature on child development and parenting knowledge. Permission to use the inventory was obtained from its author. Results: The median KIDI questionnaire scores were 8 (min-max: (-10)- 20) for mothers and 6 (min-max: (-14)- 20) for fathers (maximum score 30). The average knowledge score obtained by mothers was significantly higher than the average score obtained by fathers (p=0.024). Maternal education is associated with parenting knowledge (p<0.001). Mothers had the most experience in changing diapers and dressing their children, while fathers had the most experience in playing with their children. The least experience for mothers and fathers was reading books with their children. It was found that mothers learned the information about their children mostly by talking to their families and fathers learned mostly by talking to their wives. Conclusion: The results of the study show that Turkish couples’ parenting knowledge, especially in child development, is an area that needs to be reinforced. Education level played an important role in parenting. Policies to improve parental education may also include increasing parental knowledge of child development.

Objective: With the diagnosis of chronic illness in children, a stressful period is likely to begin for both the affected child and their families. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting chronic disease management by the parents of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).Methods: The sample consisted of 110 children, aged between 4-17 years and their mothers. The patients had been diagnosed with T1DM for at least one year, and had attended pediatric endocrinology outpatients or were hospitalized in a single center. First, sociodemographic information about the child with T1DM were obtained. Then, the "Family Management Measure" (FaMM) was applied. The FaMM is constructed to measure family functioning and management in families who have a child with a chronic illness.Results: Paternal years of education (p=0.036), family income (p=0.008), insulin pump use (p=0.011), and time elapsed after diagnosis (p=0.048) positively affected both the management of T1DM and the child's daily life. However, presence of chronic diseases in addition to T1DM (p=0.004) negatively affected diabetes management. Higher maternal education year (p=0.013) and family income level (p=0.001) increased parental mutuality scores. However, as the time after diagnosis increased, parental mutuality scores decreased.Conclusion: It is important to evaluate the child with chronic disease with a biopsychosocial approach. This approach aims to evaluate the problems of the child and his/her family who experience the disease with a holistic approach.

Amaç: Dünyada gelişmelerle birlikte, kronik ya da ölümcül hastalıkların ölüm oranlarında önemli bir azalma görülmesi; çocukların gelişimlerini etkileyen sorunların daha sık görülmesine neden olmaktadır. Erken tanı ve müdahalenin gerçekleşmesi için, hekimlerin temel gelişim basamaklarından haberdar olması ve bu tür bilgilerin tıp eğitimi sırasında edinilmesi gerekir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tıp öğrencilerinin çocuk gelişimi hakkındaki bilgilerini belirlemektir.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya, 2018- 2019 yılları arasında İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıklarında Gelişimsel Pediatri dersi almamış toplam 482 3.sınıf ve 4.sınıf tıp fakültesi öğrencileri dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmamızda 1. bölüm sosyo-demografik bilgileri, 2. bölüm; “Bakım Verenlerin Bebeklik ve Erken Çocukluk Dönemi Gelişimi ve Gelişimin Desteklenmesi Bilgisi’ni (CKCDI) ile ilgili soruları içermektedir.Bulgular: Çalışmaya 227 (%47.09) 3. sınıf, 255 (%52.90) 4.sınıf olmak üzere toplam 482 tıp öğrencisi dahil edildi. Ortalama CKCDI toplam puanı 3 sınıf öğrencileri için 14.44±5.89, 4 sınıf öğrencilerinde ise 16.10 ± 5.90’di. Üçüncü ve 4. Sınıf öğrencilerinin %50’sinden fazlası gelişim basamakları bileşeni bölümündeki 10 sorunun 5’ini doğru yanıtladığı ancak gelişimsel uyaranla destekleme bileşeni bölümündeki 10 sorudan 3. Sınıfların sadece 1 soruya (sayı saymayı öğretme) ve 4. sınıfların ise (sayı saymayı, renkleri öğretme) 2 soruya doğru cevap verdiği ortaya çıkmıştır. Üçüncü ve dördüncü sınıf tıp öğrencilerinin, gelişim becerileri ve uyarılma bilgilerinin yeterli düzeyde olmadığı görülmüştür. Üçüncü sınıfta verilen genel pediatri derslerinin dördüncü sınıf öğrencilerinin çocuk gelişimi hakkındaki bilgilerini artırmadığı da anlaşılmıştır.Sonuç: Tıp öğrencilerinin çocuk gelişimi bilgilerini değerlendirmek bebeklik ve erken çocukluktaki gelişimsel gecikmelere aşina olmalarını ve gecikmeleri tespit edebilmelerini sağlamak için yapılacak müdahaleler ve çalışmalar için önem arz etmektedir.

Background/aim: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare genetic disorder with delays in language and cognitive development, but, with increased awareness of clinical features and a reliable diagnostic test, WBS is becoming more widely recognized in childhood. Adaptive behavior skills and/or maladaptive behavior are important for the prognosis of individuals with WBS. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and developmental characteristics of patients with WBS and further increase awareness about it by evaluating the adaptive skills and maladaptive behaviors of the patients. Materials and methods: The data of WBS patients followed-up at the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Unit were reviewed. Patient data on perinatal and postnatal history, developmental stages, physical and neurological examination findings were collected. The International Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) was administered to each child. In addition, semistructured interviews were conducted with the parents using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second edition (Vineland-II). Results: A total of 12 patients diagnosed with WBS via detection of the 7q11.23 deletion, of whom 6 were girls, were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age at the time of review was 54.6 ± 32.5 months. The mean age at first presentation to the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic was 15 ± 11.5 months. In the first developmental evaluation using the GMCD, there was a delay in fine and gross motor domains in 6 patients, in the language domains in 4 patients, and in all of the domains in 2 patients. Findings with Vineland-II showed socialization and communication domains as strengths, but the daily living skills and motor skills domains were weaknesses. In terms of maladaptive behavior, the patients tended to frequently have behavioral problems, neurodevelopmental disease, anxiety disorders, eating problems, and sleeping problems. Conclusion: This retrospective review of 12 patients indicated a general delay in overall development, and confirmed impairment in both adaptive and maladaptive functioning in WBS.