Evaluating Adaptive Behaviors in a Camp for Children with Epilepsy, a Second Year of Significance
Abstract number :
3.247
Submission category :
Year :
2000
Submission ID :
720
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2000, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Sandra Cushner-Weinstein, Patricia H Papero, Madison De Jonge, Lisa Engel, Marian Kolodgie, William D Gaillard, Joan Conry, Steven Weinstein, Children's Medical Center; George Washington Univ, Washington, DC.
Rationale: A modified form of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) was designed to assess a seven-day overnight camp for children/teens with epilepsy. 14 questions, selected from VABS (socialization domain(s)/subdomain) and daily living (DL), 9 questions, relevant to camp goals, and one global question were placed in 4 functional categories . Camp objectives included increased social relationships, feelings of self worth and independence, and effective communication. Methods: 55 children and teenagers as well as 31 counselors and CITs (45% with epilepsy) attended the camp. 49% of the children had epilepsy without other disabilities or diagnoses; 35% had dual diagnoses of epilepsy and LD; 9% had mild MR and epilepsy and 7% were children of the counselors. Two counselors observed and evaluated the children in their bunk at the end of the first and last day of camp. The children were rated on social adaptive behavior using a modified VABS. Results: For each camper four mean area scores were derived by calculating the average score on each item that contributed to each of the 4 functional categories on the questionnaire. A paired-sample t-test was conducted comparing the pre-test and post-test value for each of the mean area scores in each of the four categories. A significant change was found for social interaction (s/ interpersonal relationships, p<.02) and cooperation and participation (s/ play and leisure time, p<.03). Each of the 4 categories also had a single global question intended to summarize the camper's performance in that domain. Paired-sample t-tests were conducted to compare the pre-test and post-test values on each of the global questions. The social interaction (s/interpersonal relationships) questions demonstrated significant change from the pre-test to post-test (p<.004) Conclusion: A camp for children with epilepsy can be designed to increase socialization and cooperation with peers. These results provide a second year of consistent findings suggesting the effectiveness of our camp can be assessed using an adapted form of the VABS. We also demonstrate that a camping experience is socially beneficial for children with epilepsy.