EFFECTIVENESS OF FAMILY-MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION ON IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND BURDEN OF FAMILY WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Families of children with autism play a critical role in their child’s ability to adapt and live in daily life as well as receiving treatment. By taking of various roles, families of autistic children have reported low family quality of life (FQoL) and high burden. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of family-management intervention by comparing FQoL and burden between the intervention and the control groups. A randomized control trial design was conducted to recruit participants of 40 primary caregivers of autistic children who received health services at National hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, and later they were randomly assigned into each group equally. IRB approval was obtained prior to data collection (Code 02-04-2562). The Beach Center FQoL Scale and the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (C-M-CSI) were used to measure the outcome variables three times, at baseline, week 4 at immediately after completed the intervention, and week 8 at follow-up. The family-management intervention was adapted from the Building on Family Strengths program guided by the FMSF and intensive reviewed of relevant literature. The intervention group was implemented 4 sessions and a routine care while the control group received only the routine care. One-within and one-between mixed repeated measure ANOVAs were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the total mean scores of FQoL and burden between intervention and control group was different over time (F2,76 = 853.62, p < 0.001 and F2,76 = 144.45, p < 0.001, respectively). The caregivers receiving the family-management intervention had better FQoL and lower burden than those who did not receive (F1,38 = 1442.19, p < 0.001 and F1,38 = 514.43, p < 0.001). Moreover, within the intervention group after receiving the family-management intervention, better FQoL and lower burden (Mdiff = -54.60, p < 0.001; Mdiff = 1.85, p < 0.001, respectively) than at baseline were found. These findings indicate effectiveness of the family management intervention on improving FQoL and reducing burden among families of children with autism. Policy makers, nursing administrators, and pediatric nurses should utilize this intervention as a part of regular activities to provide education and nursing care for families with autistic children.

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