Parents’ knowledge about their children’s congenital heart disease: an observational study

Abstract Introduction Congenital heart diseases (CHD) represent abnormalities of cardiovascular structure or function present at birth. The degree of knowledge of parents of children with CHD determines the quality of care and the quality of life of their children. Several studies have shown that parents’ knowledge is still lacking. Objectives This study aims to translate and validate in Italian the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for Congenital Heart Disease (LKQCHD) and to assess the knowledge of parents of children with CHD about heart defect, treatments, preventive measures, opportunities for physical activity and reproductive problems of their children. Methods Translation and validation of the questionnaire were performed using a multistep method: forward translation, backward translation, and pilot testing. Five experts in CHD were included for the validation of the questionnaire. The sample consisted of fifty-four pairs of parents of children with CHD. Parents were contacted by telephone; knowledge was assessed using an electronic questionnaire. Results Five items were found to have an Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) of 0.6, 2 of 0.5, and 2 of 0.2. The Scale ContentValidity Index (S-CVI) was found to be 0.80. Regarding parental knowledge, the results show that almost all parents are able to correctly state the name of the diagnosis and the description and location of the heart defect. However, parental knowledge has important gaps; in particular, parents are less informed about the most characteristic sign of endocarditis, the possibility of contracting endocarditis more than once in a lifetime, and risk factors. Parental knowledge also seems to be lacking regarding symptoms suggesting worsening health status in their children. Conclusions The Italian version of the LKQCHD has proved to be a valid tool to measure the level of knowledge of parents of children with CHD, allowing to identify in which areas it is necessary to improve the education addressed to parents. Key messages • Assessing the knowledge of parents of children with CHD allows to improve their education. • The Italian version of the LKQCHD is a valid tool to measure the level of knowledge of parents of children with CHD.


Introduction:
Congenital heart diseases (CHD) represent abnormalities of cardiovascular structure or function present at birth.The degree of knowledge of parents of children with CHD determines the quality of care and the quality of life of their children.Several studies have shown that parents' knowledge is still lacking.

Objectives:
This study aims to translate and validate in Italian the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for Congenital Heart Disease (LKQCHD) and to assess the knowledge of parents of children with CHD about heart defect, treatments, preventive measures, opportunities for physical activity and reproductive problems of their children.

Methods:
Translation and validation of the questionnaire were performed using a multistep method: forward translation, backward translation, and pilot testing.Five experts in CHD were included for the validation of the questionnaire.The sample consisted of fifty-four pairs of parents of children with CHD.Parents were contacted by telephone; knowledge was assessed using an electronic questionnaire.

Results:
Five items were found to have an Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) of 0.6, 2 of 0.5, and 2 of 0.2.The Scale ContentValidity Index (S-CVI) was found to be 0.80.Regarding parental knowledge, the results show that almost all parents are able to correctly state the name of the diagnosis and the description and location of the heart defect.However, parental knowledge has important gaps; in particular, parents are less informed about the most characteristic sign of endocarditis, the possibility of contracting endocarditis more than once in a lifetime, and risk factors.Parental knowledge also seems to be lacking regarding symptoms suggesting worsening health status in their children.

Conclusions:
The Italian version of the LKQCHD has proved to be a valid tool to measure the level of knowledge of parents of children with CHD, allowing to identify in which areas it is necessary to improve the education addressed to parents.

Key messages:
Assessing the knowledge of parents of children with CHD allows to improve their education.
The Italian version of the LKQCHD is a valid tool to measure the level of knowledge of parents of children with CHD.
Abstract citation ID: ckac131.458Importance of communication between health care professionals and forced migrant women during birth

Background:
Communication and information are part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).Various studies show that successful communication between birthing person and health care professionals (HCP) has a positive impact on birth and lowers risk of traumatic birth experience for women.Since information and communication is a major challenge for both forced migrant women (FMW) and health workers during birth, we investigated experiences of both sides in qualitative study.

Methods:
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 7 maternal HCPs (midwifes, physicians, social workers) and with 7 FMW 1-9 months after the birth of their child in 3 regions in Germany.
The refugee sample included new mothers from 6 countries of origins, 14 languages, and an average of three years living in Germany.The interviews were analyzed via framework analysis.

Results:
The majority of the interviewed FMW had no or little knowledge about SRHR.Good communication is one of the main factors allowing a safe and trustful environment with the birthing women.If verbal communication is not possible nonverbal communication helps to create and maintain a care relationship with the women is given.However, due to lack of staff, time and interpreters FMW with little German language proficiencies receive hardly any relevant information and had a poorer accompaniment during birth.

Conclusions:
To

Background:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the trends of prevalence of several health risk behaviors (HRBs) and health conditions over a 10-years period in a representative sample of adolescents of Tuscany Region, Italy.

Methods:
The study had a repeated cross-sectional design, data from the last four survey waves of EDIT surveillance (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018) In conclusion findings showed various different tendencies in adolescent participation in HRBs over the course of the last decade; concerning trends in at-risk sexual behaviors and alcohol consumption and females' risk-taking behavior on the rise require careful monitoring and intervention.Key messages:Distinct tendencies according to sex, socio-economic condition and specific health risk behavior were observed in adolescent participation in health risk behaviors over the course of the last decade.Health promotion and prevention interventions tailored on specific health risk behaviors and population groups are needed.