Background

Children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis are frequently burdened with psychological problems besides disease treatment and adherence. Currently, there is a shortage of appropriate and effective educational materials to facilitate physical and psychological recovery.

Objectives

To examine a picture book for the effectiveness of disease-related knowledge, coping strategies, resilience, quality of life and depressive symptoms in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in China.

Design

A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was adopted. The control group received standard care. The intervention group received the standard care plus a free picture book. This disease-specific picture book narrated the story of two rabbits diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis who underwent a series of examinations, faced difficulties taking medication, and eventually recovered.

Participants

The study recruited 60 children diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis.

Measurements

Disease-related knowledge, resilience, coping strategies, depression and paediatric quality of life were measured at baseline, the third day, the first month and the third month after recruitment. The acceptability of the picture book was evaluated at the last data-collection point.

Results

The data showed that children in the intervention group demonstrated higher levels of knowledge (p < 0.001), less usage of emotional coping strategies (p = 0.003), reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.003), improved psychological resilience (p < 0.001), and better quality of life (p < 0.046) than those in the control group in the third month. Most children (83.3%) in the intervention group were satisfied with the picture book.

Conclusions

The targeted picture book is an effective educational tool for improving clinical outcomes and was highly accepted by children.