Objective: This study aimed to identify psychoeducational interventions applied to parents of children with chronic diseases and evaluate their impact on their quality of life (QoL).
Methods: It was conducted in six databases, complemented by references from the included studies and other reviews, manual search, and contact with experts. We included primary studies on parents of children with chronic diseases that studied psychoeducational interventions versus standard care.
Results: We screened 6604 titles and abstracts, reviewed the full text of 60 records, and included 37 primary studies. Half of the studies were on Asthma. We found three intervention formats: one-to-one (43%), groups (49%), and combined approach with individual and group settings (8%). More than 60% of the included studies found statistically significant differences between the intervention and the control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Several interventions have shown efficacy in improving parental QoL. Despite that, there is insufficient evidence of interventions' implementation.
Practice implications: A holistic approach encompassing the patient and the family's biopsychosocial dimensions is fundamental in successfully managing chronic disease in children. It is vital to design and implement interventions accommodating the common issues experienced by children, parents, and families that deal with chronic childhood conditions. Systematic review registration number PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018092135.
Keywords: Children; Chronic diseases; Parents; Psychoeducational interventions; Quality of life.
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