An investigation into the psychosocial impact of therapeutic recreation summer camp for youth with serious illness and disability

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the impact on emotional, social, physical and educational functioning of a therapeutic recreation camp provided by ‘Over The Wall’, UK charity for children young people with chronic illness or disability. Method Two hundred sixty four registered attend were sent Pediatric Quality Life Inventory version Child Self-Report Scale before camp, immediately after 1 month 3 months camp. Results Of those invited participate, 178 completed pre-camp survey (67% response rate). those, 105 both post-camp questionnaires (59% respondents), 60 participants subsequently 1-month questionnaire as well (34% respondents). Only 32 3-month follow-up data (18% Across first three timepoints (pre-Camp, post-Camp follow-up), repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant improvement in emotional social functioning, but not school ( p < 0.05). Post-hoc analyses scores revealed small-medium effect sizes 0.317 0.272 respectively. Discussion summer health challenges had significant, positive functioning. Such camps can therefore be considered having empirical support their aims. Further work is warranted increase rate establish longer term wider family.