Parents' Satisfaction with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Care: Findings from a Cohort of Italian Children Using the JAMAR Questionnaire.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Despite recent advancements in treatment, children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) continue to experience poor health-related quality of life, and data on patient and parent satisfaction with disease management remain limited. Thus, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore the factors influencing parental satisfaction with their child's JIA care, using the juvenile arthritis parent acceptable symptom state (JA-PASS). Materials and Methods: Parents of 63 children (43 females and 20 males; mean age 12.2 ± 3.7 years) diagnosed with JIA completed the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR). The study analyzed JAMAR responses, along with demographic data, disease duration and activity, and current medication use, to identify clinical factors that influence JA-PASS. Results: According to the JAMAR, 55.6% of parents expressed satisfaction with their child's current condition. In a multiple regression analysis, significant factors influencing JA-PASS included medication side effects (p = 0.033), current disease activity (p = 0.009), and the psychosocial well-being rating in the JAMAR questionnaire (p = 0.048). Conclusions: JA-PASS should be integrated into patient assessment protocols, as it provides valuable insight into parents' perceptions of disease progression and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.