Purpose
This study aimed to clarify the factors related to mothers' decisions to provide disease explanations to their children, investigate the associations between those factors and social adaptive skills, and examine support relative to children's growth and development.
Methods
Data were collected from anonymous, self-administered questionnaires answered by 71 mothers of outpatient school-aged children with congenital heart disease. The questionnaire items included characteristics of mothers and children, decision factors for providing disease explanations, and children's social adaptive skills (Asahide-Shiki social adaptive skills test). Factor analysis was performed on the decision factors, and multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the identified factors and each social adaptive skill.
Results
The decision factors for providing disease explanations were the mother's explanation ability, the receptive capability of the child, and the child's interest and literacy regarding the explanation. Multiple regression analysis showed that language and social life skills were significantly associated with the child's receptive capability, and language and daily life skills were significantly associated with the child's interest and literacy regarding the explanation.
Conclusion
Improving children's language, social life, and daily life skills may enhance their receptive capability and literacy regarding explanations of their disease.

Citations

• Social Life and Communication Skills of School-Age Children with Congenital Hearing Loss Who Received Cochlear Implants at an Advanced Age
  Kyoko Shirai, Yusuke Saito, Keiichi Satoh, Ayako Tomizawa, Naoko Nonami, Sachi Maeda, Nobuhiro Nishiyama, Ryota Tomioka, Kiyoaki Tsukahara
  Audiology and Neurotology.2025; 30(3): 282.     CrossRef
• Health Literacy and Its Impact on Self-Care of Children With Congenital Heart Disease
  Yorman M. Gomez, Lisa K. Sharp, Pamela Martyn-Nemeth, Linda G. Park, Karen M. Vuckovic
  Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.2024; 39(6): 517.     CrossRef