Parent Support Group for Children with Chronic Eczema Dr Theresa Leung SMO Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent MedicinePamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

Chronic childhood eczema

Affects 30% of school aged children

Chronic, relapsing Incurable Disfiguring Vicious cycle of inflammation,

itchiness and scratching Stress related Time consuming treatment

modalities

Quality of Life and Impact on Family Children

80% affect their school work 60% reported bullying or avoidance by

schoolmates for the skin problem Parents

60% increase their time spent in housework in moderate to severe degree

70% affect their own sleep moderate to severe degree

40% parents felt severely depressed & frustrated

Coping Strategies

Children

Scratch until it bleeds

Poke with nails

Bathing

Throw out temper

Put emollients

Parents

Ask to stop scratching

Tell to bathe

Give medication

Tell to watch TV

Scolding

Scratch for them

What can we do?

Aim

To support the family and children with chronic severe eczema to sustain normal learning and development and to achieve better quality of life.

The pilot programme Health Talks

dermatologist paediatrician TCM doctors Nurses Dietitian

Stress management Clinical psychologist

Parents sharing Social worker

Group games

Arts and Crafts

Expression of feelings

School life

Coping strategies

Relaxation exercise

Understanding, Sharing & Support

Participants

In July 2005, 2 hours sessions x 3 8 families with children aged 8-12 with severe

chronic eczema 10 children ,10 parents

Feedback survey from parents Feedback number

Better understanding of the disease 9/10

Learn more about skin care 10/10

Understand about diet and eczema 9/10

Learn relaxation techniques and stress management 6/10

Play therapy is one of the most useful activity 4/10

Willingness to join further activities 10/10

To be a core member of the support group 10/10

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent

Medicine PYNEH

Other Health Care Providers

Patients and their families

Hong Kong East Community Network

Parent Support Group for Children

with Chronic Eczema in HKEC

Community Engagement Engagement of family and patients as core members

Mutual support within and between families Sharing of experiences Care ambassadors

Partnership with social services TWGH Hong Kong East Community Care Network

Involvement of other community resources Private doctors, TCM doctors Polytechnic University Schools Other volunteers & …

Our achievement From November 2005 to July 2006 30 families 16 sessions

Health talks and discussion Group activities Volunteer training and visits

Enhance knowledge, stress management and coping skills Provide counseling, sharing and support Empowerment of family as a whole Building community network Nurture Health, Harmony and Integration

我以往在加拿大接受過不同類型的輔導和治療，心結始終未能解開；但在這裡，不但輔導員的新手法令我解除過往的枷鎖，而且有『同聲同氣』的人互助支持，感覺的確好好多

這樣的支援小組，不但支援了我們這些家長，讓我們可以彼此支持，而且孩子們之間亦可以互相鼓勵和學習，可謂相得益彰

Our vision……

……to sustain and to help more desperate patients and families to lead a normal life

Thanks to

Other team members

Rebecca Hui

Yvonne Yu

Wood Woo

Doris Kot

AND

All participating children and parents