Efficacy of a family systems theory-based integrated care protocol for children with helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the outcome of a Family Systems Theory-Based integrated care protocol in children with Helicobacter pylori(Hp)-associated gastritis.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis was performed on 180 children with Hp-associated gastritis at Maternity & Child Care Center of Qinhuangdao enrolled between January 2024 to June 2025. Based on the type of care intervention received, the children were divided into two groups via a 1:1 matching protocol. The control group(n=90) received conventional care, whereas the observation group (n=90) received the integrated care protocol based on Family Systems Theory. Compared the medical adherence rate and disease recurrence rate between the two groups of children.

Results: At four weeks after care intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly higher scores for the MUIS-FM dimensions of lack of clarity, unpredictability, information deficiency, and ambiguity compared with the control group(all P<0.05). The PedsQLTM4.0 scores in the observation group were significantly higher at two weeks and four weeks after care intervention than those in the control group(P<0.05). In contrast, the STAI-Y scores in the observation group were significantly lower at two weeks and four weeks after care intervention compared with the control group(P<0.05). Furthermore, the observation group had a significantly higher medical adherence rate and a significantly lower disease recurrence rate than the control group(P<0.05).

Conclusion: Implementation of the integrated care protocol based on Family Systems Theory for children with Hp-associated gastritis can alleviate the level of illness uncertainty among primary caregivers, improve children’s quality of life, enhance their medical adherence, and reduce the disease recurrence rate.