Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the emotional and behavioural functioning of siblings of children treated with long term non-invasive ventilation (NIV).
Methods: Parents of children treated with NIV completed the Child Behaviour Checklist and a qualitative questionnaire for each sibling, aged 1.5-18 years old.
Results: The parents of 49 ventilated children were questioned about 79 siblings. For the siblings aged 1.5-5, mean total T score was 57 ± 22 (range 28-92), and five siblings (31%) were in the clinical range. For the siblings aged 6-18, mean total T score was 49 ± 12 (range 26-71), and six siblings (10%) were in the clinical range. Siblings felt responsible for their affected sibling (31%) and involved with his/her illness (52%), with 31% being worried about him/her. A change in behaviour was observed in 19% of the siblings since the initiation of NIV; 26% were impacted by the use of the NIV device.
Conclusions: The majority of siblings of children treated with NIV do not present significant emotional and behavioural problems. They feel deeply responsible for their affected sibling and involved in his/her illness and treatment, highlighting the importance to involve the siblings in the care of the affected child.
Keywords: chronic disease; non-invasive ventilation; questionnaire; sibling; sleep-disordered breathing.
© 2021 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).