Analysis of De-Identified Data Evaluating Outcomes for an Integrative Healing Retreat for Families with Children Who Have Special Healthcare Needs

Abstract

Background: One in five households has a child with special health care needs (SHCN). Such parents report poorer mental health, greater depressive symptoms, and more restrictions in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The quality of mental and physical health of all family members' continuingly declines. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the current ITK Healing Retreat Week program on familial well-being via introduction of CAM methods through assessment of 1) mood based on affect 2) self-efficacy 3) changes in coping skills 4) growth over time in parents/caregivers who have children with SHCN. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from sixteen parents/caregivers who participated in the ITK Healing Retreat Week July 13-19, 2014. Scores from Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) with Serenity subscale, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) were analyzed using SPSS. Content analysis was performed on open-ended questions from post, three and six-month post retreat questionnaires. Results: Before to immediately after the retreat week there was a statistically significant decrease in negative emotions and increase in positive mood state, ability to feel calm/at peace, relate to others, see new possibilities, and confidence in ability to perform certain care needs (<.001). From post to three-month post retreat the families' confidence in ability to perform certain care needs did not change (<.001), but declined from three to six month post retreat in a statistically significant manner (.044). Content analysis indicated that the biggest benefit for the families was being in a supportive community and having an increase in positive emotional states. At six-months post retreat an increase in receptivity was additionally reported. Conclusion: The ITK Healing Retreat Week program positively impacted families who have children with SHCN in multiple positive ways: increased mood, more confidence, ability to relate better to others and ability to see new possibilities. In effort to make this program generalizable or even replicable, further research needs to be done on the mechanism of change, the structure that creates this change, and how to make such a change sustainable by investigating a new retreat format and alternative research tools, questions, and scales.