Home care and benefit in days of hospitalization, cost and quality of life for children with cystic fibrosis

Background: Days of hospitalization are emerging as an important indicator of quality of life (QOL) among children with chronic diseases. Aim: To evaluate the QOL of children with cystic fibrosis in relation to days of hospitalization in a home care project. Patients- Method: Sixty children (mean age 10.5 years, 58.3% males, mean FEV1 98.1 ± 24.8%) with cystic fibrosis and their parents were entered prospectively in a home care project. The program was covered by two nurses and two physiotherapists who visited homes on a regular weekly basis and were referred to the CF centre. QOL DISABKIDS questionnaire for children with cystic fibrosis was completed before and one year after implementation of the home care project. We counted the days of hospitalization and cost of hospitalization before and one year after the entry of these patients in the home care project. Results: Mean days of hospitalization decreased significantly (11.1±8.9 days before, to 4.9 ±5.9, p Conclusion: Home Care contributes to significant reduction of days of hospitalization and the associated costs. It also improves quality of life of CF children.