The Family Management of Childhood Chronic Conditions: Measurement in a Turkish Sample.

PURPOSE: The principal aim of this study was to adapt the FaMM into the Turkish language and test its validity and reliability. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected from a total of 395 parents of children with chronic disease. The FaMM was translated using the translation and back-translation method. The reliability analysis of the FaMM was performed using Cronbach alpha coefficients, item-total correlations and test-retest correlations. Construct validity for the scale was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). RESULTS: The overall content validity index was 95%, signifying that the FaMM has good content validity. The CFA of the Turkish version of the FaMM did not confirm the original factorial structure. The model of three subscales for the Turkish FaMM was validated using EFA. The values of ≥0.70 for the Cronbach alpha coefficient, >0.25 for the item-total correlations and >0.40 for the test-retest application correlations for 2 weeks were found to be acceptable levels for the instruments and its subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The FaMM was found to be valid, reliable and appropriate for Turkish culture and psychometric characteristics were satisfactory. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The FaMM can be used in evaluating the management of illness in families with children with chronic disease.

Exploding asthma and ADHD caseloads: The role of medicaid managed care.

In the U.S., nearly 11% of school-age children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and approximately 10% of children suffer from asthma. In the last decade, the number of children diagnosed with these conditions has inexplicably been on the rise. This increase has been concentrated in the Medicaid caseload nationwide. One of the most striking changes in Medicaid has been the transition from fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement to Medicaid managed care (MMC), which had taken place in 80% of states by 2016. Using Medicaid claims from South Carolina, we show that this change contributed to the increase in asthma and ADHD caseloads. Empirically, we rely on variation in MMC enrollment due to a change in the "default" Medicaid plan from FFS to MMC, and on rich panel data that allow us to follow the same children before and after they were required to switch. We find that the transition from FFS to MMC explains about a third of the rise in the number of Medicaid children being treated for ADHD and asthma, along with increases in treatment for many other conditions. These are likely to be due to the incentives created by the risk adjustment and quality control systems in MMC.

The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Persons Living With Sickle Cell Disease: A Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious debilitating chronic illness, affecting approximately 90,000 Americans and millions globally. Spirituality and religiosity (S/R) may ease the burden faced by persons living with SCD. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD in the research literature. METHOD: The electronic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Source Nursing/Academic, ProQuest Health Module, PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed, and the American Theological Library Association were searched from January 1995 to December 2014. FINDINGS: Of the 89 studies retrieved, 11 articles between 2001 and 2013 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Four themes emerged. The themes included (a) S/R as sources of coping, (b) S/R enhance pain management, (c) S/R influence health care utilization, and (d) S/R improve quality of life. DISCUSSION: Use of S/R may be significant in coping with SCD, managing pain, affecting hospitalizations, and affecting quality of life. This review can direct researchers exploring S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD.