Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Children born with heart problems are much more likely to have other health problems, such as being overweight, having diabetes, or being anxious or sad. Physical activity is important for all children, but it could also help children with heart problems to be healthier. Active children are less likely to be overweight, have diabetes or be anxious or sad. Our study was designed to find out why children with heart problems do not have healthy lifestyles. We have asked children with heart problems and their parents to tell us what it is like, what makes it difficult and what would help. We also talked to doctors, nurses, recreation leaders, and mental health professionals to find out what they know and what changes they think would help. From talking to all of these groups, we learned that: a) children think health is more than just about their heart, b) that trying to be healthy often feels like a struggle that they have to fight on their own, and c) children, families and professionals think that having more information would make it easier to be healthy. The results of this project are changing what doctors and nurses do when children with heart problems come to see them.