Protocol for a study of the psychosocial determinants of health in early childhood among children with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the causal associations between family relationships, family functioning, social circumstances and health outcomes in young children with cystic fibrosis. Background: The anticipated health gains for patients with cystic fibrosis, promised by early diagnosis through newborn screening, have yet to be fully realized, despite advances in cystic fibrosis health care with aggressive management in multidisciplinary clinics and the development of specific medications. Adverse psychosocial functioning may underpin the current lack of progress as it is well recognized that compromised early parent-child attachment relationship experiences and adverse social circumstances have neg..