Developing and Evaluating Counseling Program for Caregivers to Cope with their Children Suffering from Autism at Makah Al Mukramah (original) (raw)

Background: Parents, as the main care providers for the children whose are suffering from autistic disorder need to meet the needs of their children, as well as the need to be healthy and able to assist their children development. The aims of this study were to assess caregivers' coping strategies with their children suffering from autism, develop a counseling program according to caregivers' needs and evaluate the effect of counseling program on caregivers' coping strategies. Subjects and methods: A quasi experimental design was used. A Purposive sample composed of 97caregivers of children suffering from autism (mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were recruited from El Amal-Al Manshood and Tafaoul Centers at Makkah Al Mukkramah in KSA. Tools of data collection: data were collected through using the following tools; A self-administered questionnaire for the caregivers, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), Family Impact of Childhood Disability (FICD) Scale and Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES). Results: The present study revealed that, there were a statistically significant differences between mean scores of acquiring social support and passive appraisal domains of, Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, pre and post counseling program (T. test =2.85 and 2.75, at P value at 0.01 for both domains respectively). Meanwhile there was no statistically significant difference regarding the rest of other domains such as reframing, seeking spiritual support, mobilizing family to acquire and accept help. Additionally, the family cohesion and adaptation categories were clearly positively modified after counseling program, the percentage of family disengaged was decrease from 94.7% to 44.7%. While very connection and connected pattern were increase to 10.5% & 15.8% pre and post respectively. Conclusion: The present study concluded that counseling program improved the caregivers' coping patterns of children suffering from ASD, in addition to their families cohesion and adaptation. Recommendations: The present study recommended that continuous counseling programs are needed to improve the caregivers' of child suffering from autism for their coping patterns. Also, policy makers should integrate supportive counseling programs in the routine programs provided in all healthcare centers for children with special needs. Finally, attention should be paid to raise the public awareness about available community resources for caring child with autism in KSA. [Manal Hassan Abo El –Magd, Nahed Saied El-Nagger, Luma Ghazi Al Zamil, Samera Yaqoub Kashkar. Developing and Evaluating Counseling Program for Caregivers to Cope with their Children Suffering from Autism at Makah Al Mukramah. Life Sci J 2016;13(6):1-11].