Peer-reviewed article
An Overview of the Rationale and Outcomes of Residential Camps for Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Crouzen ET, Day AS ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This review examines residential camps designed for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition affecting physical and mental health. The camps provide safe spaces where children connect with peers, share experiences, and build resilience. Studies from multiple countries show that these camps improve quality of life, social functioning, confidence, disease knowledge, and reduce feelings of isolation. Similar benefits have been found in camps for children with other chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma.
Key points
- Children with IBD experience psychological distress, stigma, developmental challenges and reduced quality of life
- Residential camps show consistent psychosocial benefits including improved quality of life, social functioning, and reduced isolation
- Structured routines, peer support and role modelling are identified as key contributors to camp effectiveness
- Similar positive outcomes have been documented in camps for other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and haemophilia
- Formal economic evaluations of camps are limited despite documented multifaceted benefits
Limitations
The review does not specify which countries' camps were studied, nor does it provide detailed information about camp duration, age groups served, or the methodological quality of individual studies reviewed. Economic data on camp cost-effectiveness is noted as lacking.
Abstract
Purpose Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated condition often beginning in childhood, impacting both physical and mental health. Children with IBD may face psychological distress, stigma, developmental challenges and general impact on quality of life (QoL). Residential camps offer holistic support by providing safe, inclusive spaces where children can connect, share experiences, and build resilience. Methods The study aimed to review the impact and outcomes of residential camps for children with IBD, with regards to factors such as emotional well-being, social functioning and disease-specific knowledge. This review explored the evolution of these camps while considering the mechanisms of benefit, and implications for future practice and research. Comparisons were made to camps for children with other chronic diseases. Results Studies of IBD camps across multiple countries show consistent psychosocial benefits, including improved QoL, social functioning, confidence, disease knowledge, and reduced isolation. Similar outcomes have also been reported in camps for other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and haemophilia, supporting the value of structured, peer-based interventions in enhancing self-management and emotional well-being more generally. Conclusion Structured routines, peer support and role modelling may be key contributors to the positive effects associated with residential camps for children with IBD. Though formal economic evaluations are limited, the multifaceted benefits of camps - psychological, educational, and potentially physiological - highlight their value in the comprehensive care of children with IBD.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Residential camps providing structured routines, peer support, safe inclusive spaces and peer-based learning for children with IBD
- Population
- Children with inflammatory bowel disease across multiple countries
Key finding
Studies across multiple countries show improved quality of life