Landolt et al identified risk factors for a low quality of life for parents of a child undergoing open heart surgery. These can help to identify parents who may benefit from interventions that will help them cope with the situation. The authors are from University Children's Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.
Mental quality of life tended to be affected more than physical.
A lower mental quality of life was seen in parents at the time of hospital discharge if there was:
(1) evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the mother
(2) evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the father
(3) maternal foreign nationality
(4) maternal lower socioeconomic status
where:
• Maternal factors may reflect fewer resources, cultural differences or less social support.
At 6 months after surgery the mental quality of life had normalized in most parents. A low quality of life was seen if the child's illnesss continued to have a high impact on the family.
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