Knowledge of parents about the illness and care for a child versus respecting the rules of healthy lifestyle of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

*Ewa Barczykowska¹, Hanna Piotrzkowska², Marlena Mania³, Andrzej Kurylak⁴

Summary
Aim of the study. To determine the level of knowledge of parents about the illness, the rules of care for ill children and respecting the rules of healthy lifestyle of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Material and methods. The study was conducted in a group 30 parents of children with JIA under the care of the Voivodeship Children´s Hospital in Bydgoszcz.
Results. Parents indicated bacterial and viral infections (77%) and genetic conditionings (40%) as the causes of JIA. In the opinion of parents, the symptoms of the arthritis are swelling and pain while making gestures (93%) and reduction of mobility (80%). Most of the parents indicated reduction of body mass and avoidance of long walking (80%) as remedies protecting joints against overburdening. No important statistical dependence between the level of knowledge and the age of parents and their education was found. A decisive majority of parents declared that their child undertakes physical activity (80%), respecting the periods of the illness´s aggravation (63%). Only every third child does the recommended rehabilitation exercises every day.
Conclusions
1. Parents of children suffering JIA mastered to a satisfactory degree the knowledge on the subject matter of the illness and a child´s nursing.
2. No important statistical dependence between the level of knowledge and the age of parents and their education was found.
3. A low level of understanding by parents of the necessity to conduct rehabilitation and the influence of obesity on deepening of joints deformation and intensification of degenerative processes in joints was found.

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